KIBBUTZ prisoner rehabilitation program head Herut [LAPID] yesterday announced he was initiating a public campaign to seek a pardon for Ronnie Leibowitz, the "motorcycle bandit" now serving a 14-year sentence for a string of 21 bank robberies.

He said the aim was to seek a pardon for Leibowitz, 39, so that he could participate in the prisoner rehabilitation program Lapid runs on various kibbutzim.

Lapid said members of Leibowitz's family and "leading public figures" asked him to intervene in the case six months ago. Since then he has met with the Leibowitz several times.