The World - News from June 23, 1989

A prominent Israeli history professor was stabbed to death in Jerusalem, and police said they are investigating it as a possible political or terrorist attack. The body of Hebrew University Prof. Menachem Stern was found by schoolchildren in a park near Israel’s Parliament building, a police spokesman said. Stern, 64, was stabbed several times in the chest, the spokesman said. He said robbery was ruled out as a motive because a watch and money were found on Stern’s body. Asked whether terrorists were believed responsible, the spokesman said, “This direction is also being checked.” Israel Television said two Arabs have been detained in the case. Stern, honored in Israel for academic excellence, had also lectured at Harvard and Oxford.