Claude Issac Khayat, suspected of killing an Israeli woman in a hit-and-run accident in September, was briefly detained by French police last Friday for speeding. Khayat, the driver of the BMW that allegedly mowed down 25-year-old Lee Zeitouni in Tel Aviv, and his passenger, Eric Robic, allegedly fled the scene of the accident, and later escaped back to France. Efforts to have the two extradited to Israel for trial have so far been unsuccessful. Last week in France, Khayat was caught driving at a speed of 156 kilometers per hour (nearly 100 mph). He was released immediately after paying a fine for speeding. At a press conference last week, the two suspects' attorney announced that they had no intention of returning to Israel because they felt that they would not receive a fair trial, and due to fear for their lives. Army Radio quoted Zeitouni's boyfriend as accusing the French government of weakness. "The fact that Claude Isaac was caught speeding in his new Audi A8 proves that France has become a sanctuary for fugitives," he said. "We expect the authorities in Israel to have them extradited and bring them to justice." The French prosecutor in the case told Channel 2 news that there was no possibility that the suspects would be extradited. "French law does not allow the extradition of French citizens there are no exceptions," she said. "This is true of any crime." If they are convicted in France, Khayat and Robic would face a minimal sentence.
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