27 aug 2013
23 aug 2013
Man tries to steal teenager's phone as she was walking on Tel Aviv promenade, stabs her when she refused to hand it over; suspect at large
A 16-year-old girl was brought to the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv Thursday night with a knife lodged inside her stomach. It is suspected she was stabbed by a migrant who tried to steal her mobile phone. She sustained light to moderate wounds. Tel Aviv police have yet to arrest the suspect after spending all night searching for him. An initial investigation suggests the girl was walking in the promenade area with a friend when a dark-skinned man attempted to steal her cell phone.
The girl resisted, prompting the man to pull out a knife and push it into her stomach, hoping she would let go of the phone. He then escaped the scene with the device while the girl fell to the ground with the knife lodged inside her stomach.
Fortunately, there was no significant internal organ damage. Magen David Adom paramedics called to the scene decided not to pull the knife out and rushed the girl to the hospital where doctors removed the weapon and handed it over to the police. Officers are hoping to use DNA from the knife to track down the suspect.
A 16-year-old girl was brought to the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv Thursday night with a knife lodged inside her stomach. It is suspected she was stabbed by a migrant who tried to steal her mobile phone. She sustained light to moderate wounds. Tel Aviv police have yet to arrest the suspect after spending all night searching for him. An initial investigation suggests the girl was walking in the promenade area with a friend when a dark-skinned man attempted to steal her cell phone.
The girl resisted, prompting the man to pull out a knife and push it into her stomach, hoping she would let go of the phone. He then escaped the scene with the device while the girl fell to the ground with the knife lodged inside her stomach.
Fortunately, there was no significant internal organ damage. Magen David Adom paramedics called to the scene decided not to pull the knife out and rushed the girl to the hospital where doctors removed the weapon and handed it over to the police. Officers are hoping to use DNA from the knife to track down the suspect.
Naftali Bennett
MKs fined for irregularities in reporting of primary finances, exceeding allotted budgets
The state comptroller issued fines to MKs who failed to follow proper primary funding practices. Economy Minister Naftali Bennett was fined NIS 65,000 (about $18,000) for failure to report expenses for a private investigator. Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon was fined NIS 20,000 ($5,600) ; Ayelet Shaked NIS 5,000 ($1,400); and Tzipi Hotovely NIS 2,000 ($560). Others fined included: Erel Margalit, Moshe Feiglin, Gila Gamliel and Tamar Zandberg.
Primary candidates who did not follow procedures have been fined by state comptroller retired Judge Joseph Shapira. Leading the pack at NIS 65,000 was Economic Minister Naftali Bennett for not reporting private investigator fees charged for collecting information on the activity of MK Nissan Slomiansky, during faction primaries for Habayit Hayehudi. Additionally, fines were issued for Minister Amir Peretz, and Deputy Ministers Tzipi Hotovely and Danny Danon, as well as several additional MKs who were fined lower amounts. According to the comptroller's report on the primaries which were held by some factions, it was shown that Bennett exceeded the NIS 1,215,153 (roughly $340,000) expenditure ceiling permitted by law for Habayit Hayehudi primaries. Additionally, he did not list all expenses to his account, plus he didn’t add authorizations for all expenses made in his name, thus he was fined a significant amount. Former Minister Daniel Hershkowitz withdrew his name before Habayit Hayehudi primaries, but received forbidden donations, and didn’t provide authorizations of all his expenditures, thus was fined NIS 2,000.
Also fined was MK Ayelet Shaked of Habayit Hayehudi, in the amount of NIS 5,000, because she neglected to turn in authorizations for campaign expenses by others, making it impossible to determine whether the expense report she submitted was complete and correct. MK Shuli Mualem was fined NIS 2,800 ($780) for similar conduct. Another Habayit Hayehudi MK who was fined is Yoni Chetboun, who is committed to paying the state NIS 4,750 ($1,325) because his records did not list all revenue and expenses, and he did not report self-donations within the timeframes established by law through the website of the state comptroller. Feiglin, Gamliel also hit with fines.
The comptroller also found irregularities in the conduct of several primary candidates on the Likud Knesset list. Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon was fined NIS 20,000 for not managing his accounts in accordance with the law and guidelines of the state comptroller. According to the comptroller, the issue was that Dannon's accounting system was incomplete: he did not report contributions received by the dates prescribed in the law through the website of the comptroller, and did not attach authorizations for expenses.
MK Moshe Feiglin was fined NIS 18,000 ($5,000) for not managing his accounts according to the provisions of the law. Among other things, the fine was related to a deficit he carried over from the previous elections, which he had not taken care of, and because he did not provide authorization for expenses within his campaign.
Additional Likud fines: Deputy Minister Hotovely was fined NIS 2,000 for not keeping her accounts in accordance with the law. This included, according to the comptroller, prohibited spending prior to the elections. MK Gila Gamliel was fined NIS 3,600 ($1,000) because she exceeded the expenditure ceiling, which for the Likud was NIS 496,000 ($138,000). Her deviation was due to a deficit from previous primaries. An additional 24 candidates in the Likud primaries who were ultimately not elected to Knesset, including former MK Zion Pinyan, received warnings or fines because they managed their accounts contrary to instructions, or did not report their primary funds and expenditures to the state comptroller.
Fines for Peretz, Sandburg And what about the Labor party? Irregularities were found there as well. Out of 83 candidates, 14 were fined. Recipients of fines include Environment Minister Amir Peretz, who ran for Labor primaries, but before the elections moved over to the Hatnua party. Peretz was fined NIS 2,000 for not reporting the opening of a special bank account, which he said was for future elections and donations received from the same account. He promised to return the funds in the account to the relevant donors.
MK Erel Margalit was fined NIS 3,000 ($840), because his accounts did not reflect all of his income and expenses. Former MK Daniel Ben-Simon was fined NIS 1,000 ($279) for unallocated expenses not from the account designated for the primaries. MK Nachman Shai received a warning from the comptroller because his report did not list all of his expenses.
Two Meretz MKs were also fined by the comptroller. MK Tamar Zandberg was fined NIS 500 ($139) for submitting her financial report late. MK Issawi Farij was fined NIS 3,000 for not submitting his financial report to the state comptroller, as required by law.
Related stories:
MKs fined for irregularities in reporting of primary finances, exceeding allotted budgets
The state comptroller issued fines to MKs who failed to follow proper primary funding practices. Economy Minister Naftali Bennett was fined NIS 65,000 (about $18,000) for failure to report expenses for a private investigator. Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon was fined NIS 20,000 ($5,600) ; Ayelet Shaked NIS 5,000 ($1,400); and Tzipi Hotovely NIS 2,000 ($560). Others fined included: Erel Margalit, Moshe Feiglin, Gila Gamliel and Tamar Zandberg.
Primary candidates who did not follow procedures have been fined by state comptroller retired Judge Joseph Shapira. Leading the pack at NIS 65,000 was Economic Minister Naftali Bennett for not reporting private investigator fees charged for collecting information on the activity of MK Nissan Slomiansky, during faction primaries for Habayit Hayehudi. Additionally, fines were issued for Minister Amir Peretz, and Deputy Ministers Tzipi Hotovely and Danny Danon, as well as several additional MKs who were fined lower amounts. According to the comptroller's report on the primaries which were held by some factions, it was shown that Bennett exceeded the NIS 1,215,153 (roughly $340,000) expenditure ceiling permitted by law for Habayit Hayehudi primaries. Additionally, he did not list all expenses to his account, plus he didn’t add authorizations for all expenses made in his name, thus he was fined a significant amount. Former Minister Daniel Hershkowitz withdrew his name before Habayit Hayehudi primaries, but received forbidden donations, and didn’t provide authorizations of all his expenditures, thus was fined NIS 2,000.
Also fined was MK Ayelet Shaked of Habayit Hayehudi, in the amount of NIS 5,000, because she neglected to turn in authorizations for campaign expenses by others, making it impossible to determine whether the expense report she submitted was complete and correct. MK Shuli Mualem was fined NIS 2,800 ($780) for similar conduct. Another Habayit Hayehudi MK who was fined is Yoni Chetboun, who is committed to paying the state NIS 4,750 ($1,325) because his records did not list all revenue and expenses, and he did not report self-donations within the timeframes established by law through the website of the state comptroller. Feiglin, Gamliel also hit with fines.
The comptroller also found irregularities in the conduct of several primary candidates on the Likud Knesset list. Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon was fined NIS 20,000 for not managing his accounts in accordance with the law and guidelines of the state comptroller. According to the comptroller, the issue was that Dannon's accounting system was incomplete: he did not report contributions received by the dates prescribed in the law through the website of the comptroller, and did not attach authorizations for expenses.
MK Moshe Feiglin was fined NIS 18,000 ($5,000) for not managing his accounts according to the provisions of the law. Among other things, the fine was related to a deficit he carried over from the previous elections, which he had not taken care of, and because he did not provide authorization for expenses within his campaign.
Additional Likud fines: Deputy Minister Hotovely was fined NIS 2,000 for not keeping her accounts in accordance with the law. This included, according to the comptroller, prohibited spending prior to the elections. MK Gila Gamliel was fined NIS 3,600 ($1,000) because she exceeded the expenditure ceiling, which for the Likud was NIS 496,000 ($138,000). Her deviation was due to a deficit from previous primaries. An additional 24 candidates in the Likud primaries who were ultimately not elected to Knesset, including former MK Zion Pinyan, received warnings or fines because they managed their accounts contrary to instructions, or did not report their primary funds and expenditures to the state comptroller.
Fines for Peretz, Sandburg And what about the Labor party? Irregularities were found there as well. Out of 83 candidates, 14 were fined. Recipients of fines include Environment Minister Amir Peretz, who ran for Labor primaries, but before the elections moved over to the Hatnua party. Peretz was fined NIS 2,000 for not reporting the opening of a special bank account, which he said was for future elections and donations received from the same account. He promised to return the funds in the account to the relevant donors.
MK Erel Margalit was fined NIS 3,000 ($840), because his accounts did not reflect all of his income and expenses. Former MK Daniel Ben-Simon was fined NIS 1,000 ($279) for unallocated expenses not from the account designated for the primaries. MK Nachman Shai received a warning from the comptroller because his report did not list all of his expenses.
Two Meretz MKs were also fined by the comptroller. MK Tamar Zandberg was fined NIS 500 ($139) for submitting her financial report late. MK Issawi Farij was fined NIS 3,000 for not submitting his financial report to the state comptroller, as required by law.
Related stories:
2 men suspected of assaulting Meretz activists in Hebron
Two right-wing activists were arrested on suspicion they assaulted members of the Meretz Youth movement in Hebron as they toured the city with the Breaking the Silence organization. It is suspected they cursed the leftist activists, called them Nazis and even tried to hit them.
Two right-wing activists were arrested on suspicion they assaulted members of the Meretz Youth movement in Hebron as they toured the city with the Breaking the Silence organization. It is suspected they cursed the leftist activists, called them Nazis and even tried to hit them.
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A former child prisoner speaks out as investigation launched into alleged torture of Palestinian child detainees.
Israeli police have launched an investigation into allegations that Palestinian children were tortured by officers in at least one police station. The children are accusing the police of being subjected to violence while being held in jail, and also say they were wrongfully accused of having committed crimes. Al Jazeera’s Sue Turton spoke to one of the alleged victims in the Occupied West Bank. |
22 aug 2013
A 16-year-old girl was stabbed by a foreign national along Tel Aviv's beach.
The events circumstances are unclear. An MDA paramedic team evacuated her to the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in moderate condition while knife was still lodged in her stomach.
The events circumstances are unclear. An MDA paramedic team evacuated her to the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in moderate condition while knife was still lodged in her stomach.
An Israeli prisoner at Hadarim Detention Center in central Israel has been arrested for sending a death threat to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, The Jerusalem Post Israeli newspaper reported Thursday.
The Israeli police searched his cell and found that he is in possession of more than one self-style knife.
According to the newspaper, the 22-year-old prisoner was apparently angry at the Netanyahu's decision to release Palestinian security prisoners. He then sent Netanyahu a letter containing a death threat, prompting his arrest.
Israeli media revealed that the prisoner identifies with the extreme Right and has been implicated in the past in 'price tag' activity, as well as issuing threats against Peace Now activists.
The Israeli police searched his cell and found that he is in possession of more than one self-style knife.
According to the newspaper, the 22-year-old prisoner was apparently angry at the Netanyahu's decision to release Palestinian security prisoners. He then sent Netanyahu a letter containing a death threat, prompting his arrest.
Israeli media revealed that the prisoner identifies with the extreme Right and has been implicated in the past in 'price tag' activity, as well as issuing threats against Peace Now activists.
21 aug 2013
20 aug 2013
Palestinian Authority police forces detained a settler on Tuesday after he entered the city of Nablus by mistake.
The settler mistakenly drove into Nablus city center and was detained by PA police while they contacted Israeli authorities.
He was later transferred to the custody of Israeli police.
The settler mistakenly drove into Nablus city center and was detained by PA police while they contacted Israeli authorities.
He was later transferred to the custody of Israeli police.
19 aug 2013
Yona Avrushmi, who murdered Peace Now activist Emil Grunzweig, was arrested on suspicion of threatening his land lady and was later released. Avrushmi was released from prison in 2011 after 11 years. According to police, Avrushmi made the threats during an argument with his new land lady. She filed a complaint with Tel Aviv police.
18 aug 2013
Military Prison 6. Cellmates told me how siblings needed school books the family couldn’t afford
On Friday, Channel 2 News aired a story of unique importance, offering a glimpse into the world of financial difficulties awaiting Israeli soldiers. A soldier from the notorious Kfir Brigade, which is often accused of brutal treatment of Palestinians, testified that 9 out of 10 soldiers need financial support, and a Knesset report indicated that thousands of soldiers desert yearly for financial reasons.
I first met these soldiers when I was in prison myself for refusing the draft, about 10 years ago. One after the other my cellmates would talk about poverty in their homes, how their parents were ill and could not afford medicine, how their siblings needed school books that the family was unable to pay for. They would reenact the arguments they had with their commanding officers, trying to get their superiors’ consent to allow them some time off so they could work and support their families. None felt bad about their choice to desert when there was no other way to help out back home or to cover their own personal debts. If anything, they detested the army for forcing itself upon them, for not offering them the help they needed and then criminalizing their acts of survival.
Often since I got out of prison I was asked by friends and journalists if other soldier-inmates were hostile toward us conscientious objectors. I would always tell the stories of soldiers’ poverty and answer with a question: do you think these soldiers still care enough about the army to be mad at me for refusing?
A recent report by the Knesset Research and Information Center indicates that 14,000 soldiers were imprisoned in 2012. More than 70 percent of these soldiers were sentenced for short-term or long-term desertion; according to Channel 2 a majority of desertions was economically-motivated. Military service is mandatory in Israel (with several exceptions) and it pays very little: 350 NIS a month, 700 NIS for a combatant. The latter is less than $200 a month, about a seventh of the minimum wage in the labor market; even if you take into consideration the services provided by the army, it is still way too little to actually live off.
In the report, Nilly Green, who served as a kind of social security agent (Mashakit Tash) for soldiers, testified that nine of out 10 of the rank-and-file soldiers were in need of assistance due to financial difficulties, and that commanding officers would often slip money into their soldiers’ backpacks. Green served in the Kfir Brigade, which operates almost solely in the occupied territories and is notorious for repeated reports of brutality toward Palestinians. A former commander on a navy ship said that 60 percent of his soldiers required help, and that he would buy them equipment they needed from his own pocket. This is the same navy that enforces the maritime blockade on Gaza, preventing fishermen from making a decent living.
A former combatant who was forced to desert testified he would take any kind of temporary work, and that he felt like “you fight in Gaza and Hebron and then you have to go fight for your home.” Another combatant said he could not afford to buy a sandwich when traveling cross-country to his base.
The IDF spokesperson sent Channel 2 the following response: “IDF is the people’s army and as such it serves as a mirror to the Israeli society, including its social and financial difficulties, and many efforts are put into assisting soldiers and their welfare. More than 400 million NIS are invested in soldier welfare every year, a figure which has grown in recent years due to the deepening of social gaps and the economic hardships in the Israeli society.”
On Friday, Channel 2 News aired a story of unique importance, offering a glimpse into the world of financial difficulties awaiting Israeli soldiers. A soldier from the notorious Kfir Brigade, which is often accused of brutal treatment of Palestinians, testified that 9 out of 10 soldiers need financial support, and a Knesset report indicated that thousands of soldiers desert yearly for financial reasons.
I first met these soldiers when I was in prison myself for refusing the draft, about 10 years ago. One after the other my cellmates would talk about poverty in their homes, how their parents were ill and could not afford medicine, how their siblings needed school books that the family was unable to pay for. They would reenact the arguments they had with their commanding officers, trying to get their superiors’ consent to allow them some time off so they could work and support their families. None felt bad about their choice to desert when there was no other way to help out back home or to cover their own personal debts. If anything, they detested the army for forcing itself upon them, for not offering them the help they needed and then criminalizing their acts of survival.
Often since I got out of prison I was asked by friends and journalists if other soldier-inmates were hostile toward us conscientious objectors. I would always tell the stories of soldiers’ poverty and answer with a question: do you think these soldiers still care enough about the army to be mad at me for refusing?
A recent report by the Knesset Research and Information Center indicates that 14,000 soldiers were imprisoned in 2012. More than 70 percent of these soldiers were sentenced for short-term or long-term desertion; according to Channel 2 a majority of desertions was economically-motivated. Military service is mandatory in Israel (with several exceptions) and it pays very little: 350 NIS a month, 700 NIS for a combatant. The latter is less than $200 a month, about a seventh of the minimum wage in the labor market; even if you take into consideration the services provided by the army, it is still way too little to actually live off.
In the report, Nilly Green, who served as a kind of social security agent (Mashakit Tash) for soldiers, testified that nine of out 10 of the rank-and-file soldiers were in need of assistance due to financial difficulties, and that commanding officers would often slip money into their soldiers’ backpacks. Green served in the Kfir Brigade, which operates almost solely in the occupied territories and is notorious for repeated reports of brutality toward Palestinians. A former commander on a navy ship said that 60 percent of his soldiers required help, and that he would buy them equipment they needed from his own pocket. This is the same navy that enforces the maritime blockade on Gaza, preventing fishermen from making a decent living.
A former combatant who was forced to desert testified he would take any kind of temporary work, and that he felt like “you fight in Gaza and Hebron and then you have to go fight for your home.” Another combatant said he could not afford to buy a sandwich when traveling cross-country to his base.
The IDF spokesperson sent Channel 2 the following response: “IDF is the people’s army and as such it serves as a mirror to the Israeli society, including its social and financial difficulties, and many efforts are put into assisting soldiers and their welfare. More than 400 million NIS are invested in soldier welfare every year, a figure which has grown in recent years due to the deepening of social gaps and the economic hardships in the Israeli society.”
“I was jailed for having financial problems” soldier tells Channel 2 (screenshot)
So how do Israel’s young deal with growing financial hardships in face of compulsory military service? Many find ways to avoid military service altogether. Some, in extreme cases, turn to looting or taking bribes, while others openly refuse service and go to prison due to the state’s violation of its obligation to defend civilians from poverty. Both of these groups are the exception to the rule.
At its core, the question of payment for military service – especially in the face of rising prices, growing poverty amongst hard working families and an ongoing collapse of the state’s welfare, housing and healthcare systems – is linked to the current crisis in Zionism, one which I referred to as a choice between militarism and solidarity: will we as Israelis fight to reestablish the old racist and militarist contract in which Jews’ service in the army buys them a certain (and quite minimal, at times) level of social security, or will we choose to form alliances of all poor, working and middle classes – Arab and Jewish alike – to form a new system of solidarity, equality and a fair economy?
Read more:
Solidarity vs. militarism: The Zionist contract and the struggle to define J14
So how do Israel’s young deal with growing financial hardships in face of compulsory military service? Many find ways to avoid military service altogether. Some, in extreme cases, turn to looting or taking bribes, while others openly refuse service and go to prison due to the state’s violation of its obligation to defend civilians from poverty. Both of these groups are the exception to the rule.
At its core, the question of payment for military service – especially in the face of rising prices, growing poverty amongst hard working families and an ongoing collapse of the state’s welfare, housing and healthcare systems – is linked to the current crisis in Zionism, one which I referred to as a choice between militarism and solidarity: will we as Israelis fight to reestablish the old racist and militarist contract in which Jews’ service in the army buys them a certain (and quite minimal, at times) level of social security, or will we choose to form alliances of all poor, working and middle classes – Arab and Jewish alike – to form a new system of solidarity, equality and a fair economy?
Read more:
Solidarity vs. militarism: The Zionist contract and the struggle to define J14
16 aug 2013
15 aug 2013
13 aug 2013
Remand extended for woman, man suspected of pimping teens
Petah Tikva Magistrate Court has extended the remand of a 21-year-old man from Rosh Ha'Ayin and a 54-year-old woman from a moshav by six days. The two were arrested Friday for allegedly pimping out children and teenagers to older men.
The two deny the allegations and the man's lawyer claims that she has evidence proving her client was framed by a vindictive girl.
Petah Tikva Magistrate Court has extended the remand of a 21-year-old man from Rosh Ha'Ayin and a 54-year-old woman from a moshav by six days. The two were arrested Friday for allegedly pimping out children and teenagers to older men.
The two deny the allegations and the man's lawyer claims that she has evidence proving her client was framed by a vindictive girl.
Suspicion: Passenger attacks bus driver for not stopping at station
Haifa Police arrested a 51-year-old man on suspicion of attacking a bus driver a month ago after the driver did not stop at a station. The driver required medical treatment and was hospitalized at Rambam Medical Center in the city. Police will request the remand of the suspect with the Haifa Magistrate's Court.
Haifa Police arrested a 51-year-old man on suspicion of attacking a bus driver a month ago after the driver did not stop at a station. The driver required medical treatment and was hospitalized at Rambam Medical Center in the city. Police will request the remand of the suspect with the Haifa Magistrate's Court.
A 31-year-old man from Tel Aviv was arrested on suspicion of importing drugs from Holland, while concealing them inside a book. According to the suspicion, the man has imported drugs several times in the past. Police reported that cannabis plants and hallucinogenic mushrooms were found in the man's house.
The suspect will be brought to remand hearing at the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court Tuesday morning.
The suspect will be brought to remand hearing at the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court Tuesday morning.