French court frees terrorist who killed US and Israeli diplomats

In France, Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a Lebanese born in 1952, was granted parole by the Paris Court of Appeal after serving over four decades in prison for his involvement in the murders of two diplomats in the early 1980s. Abdallah, a founding member of the Lebanese Armed Revolutionary Factions (LARF), had been convicted in 1987 for the killing of Charles Robert Ray, an American military attaché, and the assassination of Yaacov Barsimantov, who served as the second secretary of the Israeli embassy in France. Despite being sentenced to life imprisonment, Abdallah became eligible for parole under French law after 12 years, leading to multiple requests over the years for his release. His initial requests were denied in 1999 and 2001, but a subsequent request was granted in 2003, only to be reversed due to objections from the United States and the French justice minister. Recent developments saw a new petition for his parole accepted by the court, with tentative plans for his release set for December 2024, contingent on his deportation back to Lebanon. The Paris Court of Appeals finalized their decision, allowing for Abdallah's release by July 25, 2025. Throughout his incarceration, he has denied carrying out the attacks, yet has taken responsibility as the leader of LARF, framing his actions as part of a resistance against Israel and the US, which adds a layer of complexity to the legal and diplomatic responses surrounding his case. The case has attracted ongoing international attention, reflecting the complexities of terrorism, legal justice, and diplomatic relations, particularly between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States. French courts, acknowledging the legal framework, have determined that Abdallah's eligibility for parole, including stipulations about his deportation, must be respected, leading to significant discussions on the implications for security and international relations going forward.