Records: Plane Bomber Wanted West Bank Deportation

WASHINGTON (AP) — Records obtained by The Associated Press show a Jordanian-born Palestinian convicted of a 1982 airline bombing sought to be deported to the West Bank upon completing his prison sentence last year.

The Israeli government denied the request, citing problems with his identity documents. Since then there have been "confidential diplomatic dealings" aimed at moving Mohammed Rashed out of the U.S.

Rashed was released from prison last year after serving time for the bombing of Pan Am 830, which killed a teenager. He remains in immigration custody.

The U.S. government committed to deport Rashed to a country of his choice. Emails from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement show he picked the West Bank, and the government sought Israel's permission to send him there. Israel controls border access to the territory.

(Story by: Eric Tucker, The Associated Press)