Michael Piper and Final Judgment

[Mark Stapleton]

[B]Rabbi Burg reached his decision on Meyer Lansky in September, 1971. It was his
opinion, after careful examination of the evidence that Meyer Lansky was a
person with a criminal past and was likely to endanger the public welfare. [COLOR=#FF0000]His
application for Israeli citizenship was denied.

Your Lazarus-like reappearances are admirable David. At least someone on your side of the argument is concentrating on the issues.

Sadly, I think you've backed another loser here. The reason the Israeli Courts rejected Lansky's bid for Israeli citizenship is exactly as Rabbi Burg said. Israel didn't want to become known as a safe haven for gangsters.

By 1971 Lansky was well known. His partnership with Luciano dated back to the bootlegging days of the 1920's. He was compelled to appear at the Kefauver hearings. He was in trouble at home. Israel knew all these things. They didn't need the grief.

Having said that, they did allow some of his less high profile colleagues in.