Arutz-7, 6 December 1995 9. ELBA TO REMAIN BEHIND BARS The Israel Prison Service Release Committee decided not to commute the sentence of Rabbi Ido Elba by one-third. Fifteen months ago, Elba was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for writing a scholarly religious study on Judaism's attitude towards Arabs. The Committee claimed that "intelligence factors believe that Rabbi Elba is dangerous to the public," indicating that classified material received from the GSS [General Security Service = "Shabak"] shows that Rabbi Elba exerts an influence on students who are liable to follow in his footsteps. The Committee refused to release him even under the most restrictive conditions, despite his father's worsening health. ----------------------------- Arutz-7, 15 January 96 8. RABBI IDO ELBA APPEALS A special seven-judge forum began hearings this morning regarding the appeal of Rabbi Ido Elba, who was convicted of publicizing an illegal treatise in Jewish Law. His lawyers claim that the conviction is a violation of the religious freedom of rabbis in Israel. Rabbi Elba was sentenced to two years in jail, but did not receive 1/3 off for good behavior because of the objections of the GSS. Prison guards described Rabbi Elba as a "model prisoner." ----------------------------- From SNS News Service "PLO Arrest" January 30, 1996..9 Shvat 5756..Number 898 ..Update from Israel **** While awaiting the judgment of the Israeli Supreme Court, Rabbi Eido Elba was beaten by a Corrections Officer inside the Supreme Court Building as he was being escorted back to the waiting police van. Rabbi Eido Elba, sentenced to a two-year jail term for publishing "inciteful" literature, appealed his sentence yesterday. He has already served 18 months and according to prison officials, is a "model prisoner." His appeal for early parole was refused after the General Security Service stated that they have secret evidence which proves that the Rabbi is a danger to the public safety and therefore may not be released. The Rabbi took his appeal to the High Court. Yesterday ,the Corrections Officer became agitated and upset when the appeal ran late and he wanted to leave. Witnesses stated that he took out his aggressions on the Rabbi. (SNS..1/29). --------------------------------- Arutz-7, 10 March 1996 8. RABBI ELBA RELEASED FROM PRISON; RABBI GINZBURG ARRESTED Rabbi Ido Elba, imprisoned over a year ago for writing a treatise dealing with the question of capital punishment for the killing of Arabs, was ordered to be immediately released by a Tel-Aviv District Court. His father passed away this week, and the Court directed that he be released for the 7-day mourning period traditionally held for a lost parent. The Court stated that he has already served 2/3 of his sentence, and is entitled to immediate release. Prison authorities view him as a "model prisoner." The General Security Service and the State Prosecutor are appealing the ruling. ------------------------------- Arutz-7, 17 March 96 8. RABBI ELBA BACK IN JAIL Rabbi Ido Elba, imprisoned for authoring a certain Halakhic treatise regarding the question of when it is forbidden/permitted for a Jew to mortally protect himself against non-Jews, and who had been freed after having served 2/3 of his sentence, was ordered back to jail. The decision came following an appeal by the State regarding the decision to release him. -------------------------------- Arutz-7, 18 April 1996 9. RELEASE OF RABBI ELBA ORDERED A Tel Aviv District Court ordered Rabbi Ido Elba to be immediately released from prison, following the completion of more than two-thirds of his two-year sentence for Halakhic material concerning Jewish-gentile relations that he wrote. However, the release was put off until Independence Day, next Wednesday, at the request of the prosecution, who wishes to appeal the decision. -------------------------------- Arutz-7, 22 April 1996 1. RABBI ELBA RELEASED FROM PRISON Rabbi Ido Elba spoke to Arutz 7 early this afternoon, only minutes before his court-ordered release from prison. The Parole Board had originally denied his request for parole, accepting the position of the General Security Service that he "endangered the public welfare." The Tel Aviv District Court nullified the decision, and the G.S.S. decided not to press its appeal. Rabbi Elba was imprisoned for writing "inciteful material" in the framework of a Halakhic article. When asked by our reporter what lessons he had learned from the past two years, he said, "We must increase our love of Israel... I think that the State of Israel learned its lesson, that it should not punish people in this manner." ---------------------------------- News from Hebron, 23 April 1996 3. Rabbi Ido Elba Released Rabbi Ido Elba, imprisoned over a year and a half ago, and convicted of writing a Halachic (Jewish Legal) treatise that supposedly advocated killing of non-Jews, was released yesterday. A Jerusalem District Court accept Rabbi Elba's appeal against the parole board, which refused to release him following completion of two-thirds of the sentence. The prosecution decided not to appeal the district court decision. ----------------------------------------------------------- SNS News Service "A Mother's Pain" March 14, 1996.. 23 Adar 5756..Volume II, Number 009 ..Update from Israel The following is taken from an SNS telephone interview with Mrs. Malka Elba, mother of administrative prisoner, Rabbi Eido Elba, on March 14th. ^^^^ SNS: I do not understand. We had received reports that your son, Rabbi Eido, was released from prison to enable him to attend his father's funeral last week. Now we hear that he is in prison. Can you explain? Mrs. Elba: Eido was released after serving 18 months in prison. They let him out for his father's funeral. He was not permitted to come to the funeral parlor at first. They would not let him. After intervention by a Member of Knesset, he was brought to the funeral parlor to eulogize his father. The funeral was delayed over one hour until he was brought. Now, the Shiva (one-week mourning period required by Jewish Law) is over and they have taken him away again. SNS: We were told earlier, that upon recommendation of Corrections Officials and others, he was released after serving two-thirds of his 24-month sentence. He was described as a model prisoner. Mrs. Elba: Yes, this is accurate. He was released for the funeral and was told that he could remain free, having served 18 months. While we were mourning Eido's father, the State Prosecutor appealed and had the decision overturned. Now, he was taken away once again. These are very hard times. You should have heard Eido eulogize his father at the funeral. He told everyone to look around at the very large police contingent that escorted him. He asked everyone not to be angry with them. "They are Jews. They are somewhat misguided. Pray for them but do not be angry. We must love one another", he said. Despite 18 months in prison, he continues to be strong. He is a very righteous person. SNS: What will be now? Mrs. Elba: I am afraid that after the two-year sentence is completed, this too will not suffice. I think they have already begun laying the groundwork to imprison him for more time. They say that, "his spiritual and religious effect on people exceeds all other threats to society." The stated that, "he is too dangerous to be living among the general population." ^^^^ Background: Rabbi Elba was found guilty and sentenced to a two-year prison term for publishing a Jewish dissertation, which stated explicitly that it was dealing with the hypothetical. He spoke of the Jewish Law vis-=E0-vis the killing of non-Jews. The dissertation quoted leading Torah authorities and noted scholars. He was turned down for parole after the General Security Service (GSS) presented the Court with secret evidence that proved his danger to the population. This despite the fact the prison officials and guards testified to his being a model prisoner. Rabbi Elba's attorney has been unable to take legal action regarding the denial of parole. All evidence presented has been given a classified status and he, too, may not review it. Rabbi Elba is 34-years-old and the father of three children. He is a resident of Kiryat Arba. (SNS..3/14..5:10pm).