Source: Jerusalem Post Author: Helen Kaye Pubdate: 18 Dec 97 Contact: http://www.jpost.co.il/ Mirror: http://www.jpost.com/ NEW GROUP SEEKS AMNESTY FOR COMMON CRIMINALS TEL AVIV A newly formed citizens' committee has mounted a campaign for a 50th anniversary amnesty to be granted to inmates sentenced for drug and debtrelated offenses, spokesmen said yesterday. The Citizens' Committee for Amnesty will not seek pardons for anyone convicted of major felonies such as murder or rape, a news conference was told. "We are not political and our efforts cut across racial and ethnic lines," former MK Charlie Biton said. "But it cannot be denied that the vast majority of prisoners in Israeli jails belong to the Sephardic population." Major efforts are being directed at winning freedom for those jailed for drugrelated offenses. According to committee member Cohavi Shemesh, 77% of prisoners "are drug addicts who should be in rehabilitation programs and not behind bars, and 66% require treatment." Veteran Black Panther member Reuven Abergil argued that many Sephardim in jail for drugrelated crimes grew up in circumstances of economic and social deprivation, as did many Israeli Arabs who account for 50% of prison drug addicts. Shemesh said the committee was formed out of concern that the amnesty proposed by Jubilee Committee Chairman Yitzhak Moda'i would apply mainly to whitecollar criminals, rather than "the real unfortunate prisoners whose crime is based on social circumstance." Posters are being advertised and a Knesset lobby will try to focus awareness on the issue to obtain quick passage of a law to pardon minor offenders. A series of five advertisements will feature a poster that says: "Israel, will you not ask peace for your prisoners?" Knesset support for the effort cuts across party lines. Backers include former Speaker Shevah Weiss (Labor), Finance Committee Chairman Avraham Ravitz (Degel Hatorah), Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, and MK Reuven Rivlin (Likud). Other supporters include actor/director Arnon Zadok and director David BenShitrit.