Palestinians charged over Israeli politician's murder

Two Palestinians have been charged in connection with the murder of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi.

Neither is accused of pulling the trigger on October 17, but prosecutors say they assisted the gunman.

Mohammed Rimawi, from Beit Rima, is charged with murder, while Saleh Alawi, from east Jerusalem, is charged as an accomplice.

The charge sheet said Hamdi Koraan, from Ramallah, shot Rehavam Zeevi, and Basal Samer accompanied him. They are believed to be still at large in Palestinian-controlled areas.

The prosecution say Koraan, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, recruited Rimawi into the organisation with the offer of carrying out an attack on a prominent Israeli.

Rimawi, whose role in the operation, according to the indictment, was to aid the escape of Koraan and Samer, later allegedly enlisted Alawi and asked him to harbour the fugitives in his home in Izzariya on the edge of Jerusalem.

The charge sheet says Koraan and Samer fled from Alawi's house during the early hours of the morning following the assassination when they spotted Israeli security forces approaching the hide-out.

Police say Alawi and Rimawi were captured, and during interrogation named the other members of the murder squad.

At the hearing they did not oppose a prosecution request to hold them in custody until the end of proceedings against them. No trial date has been set.

The PFLP claimed responsibility for the assassination as revenge for Israel's killing of its leader, Mustafa Zibri, on August 27.