In fact, the prosecutor would have faced a major legal hurdle.

But the police and prosecutors here face an almost insurmountable problem: Money laundering is not a crime in Israel.

A Lot of Scrambling' Still, many people working on the case say the prosecutors face an uphill battle.

The three other defendants whose hearings were held earlier this week also had fewer lawyers than the prosecutors facing them.

A key problem for the Government is the difficulty prosecutors face in keeping classified information from being exposed if they bring an indictment.

Most of the men plead guilty, prosecutors there said, and usually face prison or probation that mandates child support.

Today's hearing highlighted the many challenges that prosecutors will face if the case goes to trial.

At the same time, prosecutors also faced accusations that they might try to please nationalistic politicians in advance of the presidential election next year.

Under the rules of criminal procedure, prosecutors faced a deadline of this week to seek the reduction.

If the government continues to insist on seeking the death penalty and takes the Hanssen case to trial, prosecutors could face several risks.