2 Sentenced in Burial of Arabs

A military court today sentenced two soldiers accused of burying four Arabs alive to longer prison sentences than requested by prosecutors, saying their conduct was grave and shameful, Israel radio reported.

The court sentenced Pvt. Dror Segen-Cohen to six months in jail along with a four-month suspended sentence. Pvt. Yair Nissimi was given five months in jail and a seven-month suspended sentence. The prosecution had asked for two months in jail for Segen-Cohen and 2 1/2 months for Nissimi. The soldiers admitted that they beat four Arabs from the occupied West Bank village of Kfar Salem on Feb. 5 after a protest in the village. The soldiers also admitted burying the four in about 25 inches of mud. The Arabs survived.