Israeli who killed alleged Nazi collaborator Rudolf Kasztner dies at 88

Ze'ev Eckstein, who worked for an underground right-wing group, shot Kasztner in 1957 for his alleged collaboration with the Germans in Hungary

IN THE 1950S, the Israeli-born Eckstein spent time as an informer for the Shin Bet security service while also working for an underground right-wing group that sent him to shoot Kasztner – sometimes also spelled Kastner – outside his Tel Aviv home in 1957 after a court found that Kasztner had collaborated with the Nazis during the Holocaust.

Eckstein was convicted and would serve around six years in prison before being pardoned.

Kasztner, a journalist, was active in the left-wing Mapai party and in 1952 served as spokesman for the Trade and Industry Ministry.

His death followed a 1954-55 libel trial during which it was claimed that Kasztner cooperated with the Nazis and indirectly contributed to the Holocaust in Hungary in return for saving nearly 1,700 wealthy or prominent Jews.

FULL STORY Israeli who killed alleged Nazi collaborator Rudolf Kasztner dies at 88 (Haaretz)

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Photo: Ze'ev Eckstein on the cover of a 1958 issue of the magazine Haolam Hazeh