Early release for man convicted of rape

An Arab man convicted of rape-by-deception was granted early release by an Israeli court , after a successful appeal. Sabar Kashour was convicted of rape-by-deception for telling a Jewish woman he was Jewish and single -- when in fact he was Arab and married -- after which they had consensual sex. He was initially sentenced to a year and a half in prison, but Ynetnews.com reported the sentence was reduced to nine months following his appeal and a parole board has cut down the sentence by one third. Kashour is scheduled to be released June 4. He began serving his sentence Feb. 19. The government had tried to track down Kashour's victim, but she could not be found to give the court her account of the story. "I wonder what would have happened if an indictment had been filed in Europe against a Jew in opposite circumstances," said Kashour's attorney. "I find it strange the victim wasn't found."