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Palestinian Fugitive Found Dead Outside Embassy in Bulgaria Palestinian Fugitive Found Dead Outside Embassy in Bulgaria
(about 9 hours later)
JERUSALEM — A Palestinian man who escaped from prison in Israel more than 20 years ago was found dead Friday outside the Palestinian Embassy in Bulgaria, his family and Palestinian officials said. JERUSALEM — A Palestinian man who escaped from prison in Israel more than 20 years ago was found dead Friday outside the Palestinian Embassy in Bulgaria, his family and Palestinian officials said.
The family of the man, Omar Zayed, blamed shadowy agents of Israel’s Mossad for his death in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, where he had been avoiding extradition to Israel on murder charges. The family of the man, Omar Zayed, blamed agents of the Mossad for his death in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, where he had been avoiding extradition to Israel.
Mr. Zayed, 52, was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of the murder of Eliyahu Amedi, an Israeli yeshiva student, in 1986.Mr. Zayed, 52, was sentenced to life in prison after he was convicted of the murder of Eliyahu Amedi, an Israeli yeshiva student, in 1986.
According to Israeli media reports, Mr. Zayed’s brother, Ahmad, was also convicted of killing Mr. Amedi, and was ultimately released from prison in 2011 as part of an exchange deal for an Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza. According to Israeli media reports, Mr. Zayed’s brother, Ahmad, was also convicted of killing Mr. Amedi, and was released from prison in 2011 as part of an exchange deal for an Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza.
Omar Zayed escaped custody in 1990 after he went on a 40-day hunger strike and was transferred from prison to a hospital in Bethlehem, according to a statement by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a leftist Palestinian group to which Mr. Zayed belonged.Omar Zayed escaped custody in 1990 after he went on a 40-day hunger strike and was transferred from prison to a hospital in Bethlehem, according to a statement by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a leftist Palestinian group to which Mr. Zayed belonged.
He ultimately made his way to Sofia, and had lived there since 1994. He married a Bulgarian woman and had a son and two daughters, his brother said.He ultimately made his way to Sofia, and had lived there since 1994. He married a Bulgarian woman and had a son and two daughters, his brother said.
Mr. Zayed took refuge in the Palestinian Embassy in December after he feared that the Bulgarian authorities would extradite him, after a request by Israeli officials. Mr. Zayed took refuge in the Palestinian Embassy in December after he feared that the Bulgarian authorities would extradite him after a request by Israeli officials.
His brother said that Mr. Zayed had been sleeping on a couch in the embassy and that the Palestinian ambassador had become increasingly impatient with Mr. Zayed and asked him to leave.His brother said that Mr. Zayed had been sleeping on a couch in the embassy and that the Palestinian ambassador had become increasingly impatient with Mr. Zayed and asked him to leave.
“Where was the embassy’s security?” Ahmad Zayed asked.“Where was the embassy’s security?” Ahmad Zayed asked.
Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official, described Omar Zayed’s death as an “assassination” in a statement. Mr. Erekat said that Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, had ordered the creation of an investigative committee that would fly to Bulgaria.Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official, described Omar Zayed’s death as an “assassination” in a statement. Mr. Erekat said that Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, had ordered the creation of an investigative committee that would fly to Bulgaria.
Editorials published in the Israeli media on Friday argued that Israeli officials were unlikely to have authorized an assassination after they had formally requested his extradition, and just after a visit to Israel by the Bulgarian prime minister.Editorials published in the Israeli media on Friday argued that Israeli officials were unlikely to have authorized an assassination after they had formally requested his extradition, and just after a visit to Israel by the Bulgarian prime minister.
The cause of Mr. Zayed’s death was not clear. A Bulgarian prosecutor general, Sotir Tsatsarov, told The Associated Press that it appeared that Mr. Zayed had fallen from the embassy building and that he was found outside. He died before paramedics could take him to the hospital.The cause of Mr. Zayed’s death was not clear. A Bulgarian prosecutor general, Sotir Tsatsarov, told The Associated Press that it appeared that Mr. Zayed had fallen from the embassy building and that he was found outside. He died before paramedics could take him to the hospital.
Mr. Zayed’s death was discovered just hours after the Bulgarian prime minister, Boiko Borisov, had returned from a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, where he had discussed Mr. Zayed’s extradition, The A.P. reported. Mr. Zayed’s death was discovered hours after the Bulgarian prime minister, Boiko Borisov, had returned from Israel and the Palestinian territories, where he had discussed Mr. Zayed’s extradition, The A.P. reported.
“I told all sides that our prosecution had received a request for extradition and now a court was to decide whether he will be extradited or not,” Mr. Borisov was reported to have told Parliament on Friday. “I told all sides that our prosecution had received a request for extradition and now a court was to decide whether he will be extradited or not,” Mr. Borisov told Parliament on Friday.