The recent trend has elicited much concern among U.S. law-enforcement personnel and prosecutors, who fear that Israeli criminals will use the Jewish state as a refuge. Prosecutors say the Israelis are gambling that U.S. law-enforcement officials will not have the resources or motivation to pursue cases in Israel. Prosecutors are quick to point out that many Israelis accused of crimes in the United States do not flee. But a State Department official said local district attorneys have contacted its legal department to discuss the problem. Sheinbein, who had never before claimed Israeli citizenship, contended that his father's status as an Israeli extends to him.
Israeli officials say otherwise.
While they have not questioned the elder Sheinbein's citizenship, Israeli officials, including the attorney general, say the youth is not an Israeli because his father, born in prestate Palestine, left the country at a young age. But Sheinbein's attorney argued in Jerusalem District Court on Sunday that Sheinbein is an Israeli citizen. On Wednesday, Judge Moshe Ravid proposed a compromise, suggesting that Sheinbein voluntarily return to the United States to stand trial, and, if convicted, be permitted to serve out his sentence in Israel. The compromise, if accepted by the defense and prosecution in the case, would sidestep the U.S. extradition request. The prosecution requested time to study it.