By Charlie Charalambous
THE TWO Israelis jailed in February for approaching a restricted military zone look set to remain behind bars until next year, dashing their hopes of an early release.
Days after Igal Damary, 49, and Udi Hargov, 37, were sentenced to three years in prison, their Cypriot lawyers confidently spoke of securing a presidential pardon before the summer.
Earlier this week, rumours spread that a deal was being brokered to get them released quickly after top Israeli lawyer Reuven Bachar was spotted with his advisers in Nicosia.
But their Cypriot lawyers said that, for the moment, efforts to free Hargov and Damary were “a no-go area”.
Now it seems the two alleged Mossad agents could remain behind bars at Nicosia Central Prison for another six months before their lawyers apply for a pardon.
“There is no reason to apply for a pardon right now because the climate is very negative and the Attorney-general has already stated there is no chance,” said defence lawyer for the Israelis, Michael Kleoppas.
Kleoppas pointed to the recent debate in the House of Representatives, which criticised the government for dropping the initial spying charges during the trial, and to statements by Attorney-general Alecos Markides suggesting that Hargov and Damary would need to serve at least half of their sentence before being released. The Cyprus prison year, with time off for good behaviour, stands at around nine months.
“I believe after this October will be the right time because Markides said he was willing to look at the application (for a pardon) once half their prison time was served,” said Kleoppas.
“We are waiting for the political climate between Cyprus and Israel to get better and local opinion to cool down,” he added.
There was public outrage over the decision to drop spying charges against the Israelis, and many people believe the “light sentence” imposed was a direct result of intense pressure from the Israeli authorities.
The Cyprus government has denied it made any bargain with the Israelis.
Israel made no secret of the fact that it wanted its nationals returned immediately and opposed any legal proceedings against them.
Kleoppas said that Markides had drawn a direct link between Israel’s refusal to release Cypriot journalist Panayiotis Paschalis in 1978 and the predicament of his own clients.
“The Attorney-general gave the Paschalis case as an example of how long he thought the Israelis should stay in prison,” said Kleoppas.
Paschalis, who still maintains his innocence, was sentenced to five years on charges of spying for the Palestinians. He spent two and a half years behind bars, despite repeated protests by the Cyprus government.
As the three Cypriot lawyers representing the Israelis decided not to appeal against the Assize court decision, a presidential pardon is their only early release option.
President Clerides usually only grants pardons on the advice of the Attorney-general, so Kleoppas is aware that Markides needs to soften his hitherto tough stance on the issue before any progress can be made.
Hargov and Damary have been in custody since they were arrested on November 7, 1998, in the tiny fishing village of Zygi. Their prison time served is calculated from the time they were first taken into custody.
