13 nov 2015
The Eritrean who was killed in the incident
State attorney summons suspects, including security guards and an IDF soldier, for a hearing regarding the violence against Habtom Zerhom during the terror attack at Be'er Sheva's central bus station last month.
The state attorney on Thursday issued summons to a hearing for five suspects in the lynching of Eritrean citizen Habtom Zerhom, killed during the attack at Be'er Sheva's central bus station last month.
The five suspects are two members of the Israeli Prison Service (IPS), an IDF soldier and two civilians.
Among other things, they are suspected of causing injury with aggravated intent and face a hearing by the Southern District attorney. IPS officer Meishar Ronen Cohen is suspected of causing injury with aggravated intent and assaulting the bus driver who tried to prevent the attack from continuing.
The letter sent to the five suspects revealed that during the incident, while Zerhom was lying bleeding on the floor, and when it was clear that he was helpless and there was a crowd around him, the suspects approached him and beat him, kicked him in his head and hurled a nearby bench at him several times with the intent to cause him severe injury, disability or deformity.
State attorney summons suspects, including security guards and an IDF soldier, for a hearing regarding the violence against Habtom Zerhom during the terror attack at Be'er Sheva's central bus station last month.
The state attorney on Thursday issued summons to a hearing for five suspects in the lynching of Eritrean citizen Habtom Zerhom, killed during the attack at Be'er Sheva's central bus station last month.
The five suspects are two members of the Israeli Prison Service (IPS), an IDF soldier and two civilians.
Among other things, they are suspected of causing injury with aggravated intent and face a hearing by the Southern District attorney. IPS officer Meishar Ronen Cohen is suspected of causing injury with aggravated intent and assaulting the bus driver who tried to prevent the attack from continuing.
The letter sent to the five suspects revealed that during the incident, while Zerhom was lying bleeding on the floor, and when it was clear that he was helpless and there was a crowd around him, the suspects approached him and beat him, kicked him in his head and hurled a nearby bench at him several times with the intent to cause him severe injury, disability or deformity.
Accused IPS officer Meishar Cohen
Those present, including the security officer of the station, riot police officers and another civilian, allegedly separated the suspects from the deceased, asked them to stop attacking and lifted up the bench. The suspects allegedly confronted them and hurled the bench at the victim repeatedly as Zerhom was still on the ground, lying in his blood.
Meishar Cohen was on his way to the hospital to get his hand X-Ray when he heard about the attack and ran towards the central bus station. "I did not think twice," Cohen said after the incident.
"The person who tried to protect him didn't tell me that he was not a terrorist," Cohen added. "He attacked me and began to gesture with his hands and his head. He was not neutralized. The first thing that came to my mind was that he had a weapon. Then he made a gesture with his hand as if he was going to get something. I gave him a kick in the neck and sat next to him. I did not touch him.
In my eyes and in the eyes of everyone around he was the terrorist at that moment. I've been in the security forces for 13 years now and I have never assaulted anyone. I came to work to hit someone? I could have escaped. Once I swore allegiance to the State of Israel and I see a terrorist that is not neutralized, I will neutralize him. If in two weeks there's a similar incident, I would act similarly."
Those present, including the security officer of the station, riot police officers and another civilian, allegedly separated the suspects from the deceased, asked them to stop attacking and lifted up the bench. The suspects allegedly confronted them and hurled the bench at the victim repeatedly as Zerhom was still on the ground, lying in his blood.
Meishar Cohen was on his way to the hospital to get his hand X-Ray when he heard about the attack and ran towards the central bus station. "I did not think twice," Cohen said after the incident.
"The person who tried to protect him didn't tell me that he was not a terrorist," Cohen added. "He attacked me and began to gesture with his hands and his head. He was not neutralized. The first thing that came to my mind was that he had a weapon. Then he made a gesture with his hand as if he was going to get something. I gave him a kick in the neck and sat next to him. I did not touch him.
In my eyes and in the eyes of everyone around he was the terrorist at that moment. I've been in the security forces for 13 years now and I have never assaulted anyone. I came to work to hit someone? I could have escaped. Once I swore allegiance to the State of Israel and I see a terrorist that is not neutralized, I will neutralize him. If in two weeks there's a similar incident, I would act similarly."
27 oct 2015
Ben-Eliezer
Attorney General Weinstein announced the indictment Tuesday, following a hearing. Ben Eliezer is accused of charges that include bribery, tax evasion, and fraud.
Former MK and minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer will be indicted for offenses related to bribery, money laundering, fraud and breach of trust, as well as several tax evasion charges, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein announced on Tuesday.
Ben-Eliezer was an MK Between the years 2007-2014, and was also a minister during parts of that period. He is suspected of demanding, and receiving, money from different business people. He allegedly used this money to purchase real estate assets. Ben-Eliezer also allegedly exchanged hundreds of thousands of dollars without reporting it to authorities while actively attempting to hide the process.
Ben-Eliezer is also accused of giving the Knesset speaker false financial statements, not reporting accumulated assets, and of not reporting income to tax authorities and actively hiding taxable income from them.
Ben-Eliezer allegedly contacted businessman Avraham Nanikashvili, asking for and getting $400,000 in return for favors while he was Minister of Industry, Trade & Labor, which benefitted Nanikashvili and his business partner, Jacky Ben-Zaken.
Ben-Eliezer is suspected of peddling his influence to get Nanikashvili's associate appointed vice chairman of the Russia-Israel Business Forum. He also allegedly helped oil company Shemen Industries, owned by Nanikashvili and Ben-Zaken, get a drilling permit, while using his influence as the minister in charge of the Petroleum Council. He also signed an affidavit in Nanikashvili's favor, for which he is accused of fraud and breach of trust.
Ben-Eliezer is further suspected of contacting the Egyptian consul for businessman Roy Mutzafi several times, so that Mutzafi's company would get worker permits there. In 2011, Mutzafi allegedly transferred NIS 260,000 for the purchase of a lot in Ness Ziona, owned by Ben-Eliezer's wife and son.
In addition, Ben-Eliezer allegedly contacted Mutzafi in 2012 and asked him for NIS 500,000 to finance the purchase of a house in Jaffa, which Mutzafi later allegedly gave.
Avraham Nanikashvili's attorneys, Nati Simhoni and Yoav Sananes, said: "We received the prosecution's decision to indict our client with great sadness. We believe that a proper look at all of the evidence, as we said during the hearing, should have brought about the educated decision to close the case. The public should know, any claim attributing an unlawful act to Mr. Nanikashvili – including bribery – is based on nothing and does not conform to the truth. We fully believe that after things will be cleared in up during legal proceedings, Mr. Nanikashvili's innocence will be shown and he will be acquitted of all charges."
Attorney General Weinstein announced the indictment Tuesday, following a hearing. Ben Eliezer is accused of charges that include bribery, tax evasion, and fraud.
Former MK and minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer will be indicted for offenses related to bribery, money laundering, fraud and breach of trust, as well as several tax evasion charges, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein announced on Tuesday.
Ben-Eliezer was an MK Between the years 2007-2014, and was also a minister during parts of that period. He is suspected of demanding, and receiving, money from different business people. He allegedly used this money to purchase real estate assets. Ben-Eliezer also allegedly exchanged hundreds of thousands of dollars without reporting it to authorities while actively attempting to hide the process.
Ben-Eliezer is also accused of giving the Knesset speaker false financial statements, not reporting accumulated assets, and of not reporting income to tax authorities and actively hiding taxable income from them.
Ben-Eliezer allegedly contacted businessman Avraham Nanikashvili, asking for and getting $400,000 in return for favors while he was Minister of Industry, Trade & Labor, which benefitted Nanikashvili and his business partner, Jacky Ben-Zaken.
Ben-Eliezer is suspected of peddling his influence to get Nanikashvili's associate appointed vice chairman of the Russia-Israel Business Forum. He also allegedly helped oil company Shemen Industries, owned by Nanikashvili and Ben-Zaken, get a drilling permit, while using his influence as the minister in charge of the Petroleum Council. He also signed an affidavit in Nanikashvili's favor, for which he is accused of fraud and breach of trust.
Ben-Eliezer is further suspected of contacting the Egyptian consul for businessman Roy Mutzafi several times, so that Mutzafi's company would get worker permits there. In 2011, Mutzafi allegedly transferred NIS 260,000 for the purchase of a lot in Ness Ziona, owned by Ben-Eliezer's wife and son.
In addition, Ben-Eliezer allegedly contacted Mutzafi in 2012 and asked him for NIS 500,000 to finance the purchase of a house in Jaffa, which Mutzafi later allegedly gave.
Avraham Nanikashvili's attorneys, Nati Simhoni and Yoav Sananes, said: "We received the prosecution's decision to indict our client with great sadness. We believe that a proper look at all of the evidence, as we said during the hearing, should have brought about the educated decision to close the case. The public should know, any claim attributing an unlawful act to Mr. Nanikashvili – including bribery – is based on nothing and does not conform to the truth. We fully believe that after things will be cleared in up during legal proceedings, Mr. Nanikashvili's innocence will be shown and he will be acquitted of all charges."
13 oct 2015
After talks for plea bargain fall through, attorney general files serious indictment against Metzger, including counts of fraud, theft, breach of trust, money laundering and tax offenses.
A serious indictment against former Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who is suspected of abusing his position and accepting NIS 7 million (about $1.8 million) in bribes, was filed Tuesday by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein after talks between the State Prosecutor's Office and the rabbi's attorneys fell through.
The Jerusalem District Court charged Metzger with fraud, breach of trust, receiving a bribe, theft, conspiring to commit a crime, money laundering and tax offenses. The offenses were allegedly committed during his term as Israel's Ashkenazi chief rabbi.
According to the State Prosecutor's Office, during and as a result of the offenses Metzger accepted an estimated amount of NIS 10 million in bribes, of which he pocketed about NIS 7 million.
Talks for a plea bargain between Metzger and the State Prosecutor's Office ended without any agreements, following the testimony of his former driver, who turned state's evidence, who allegedly served as his messenger and received the funds on his behalf. Due to their close relationship the associate's part in the offenses, Rabbi Metzger allegedly divided the money between himself and his driver.
According to the draft indictment, Metzger allegedly received benefits from a rabbi residing abroad after referring wealthy foreign residents interested in conversion processes to the rabbi. For every such referral, Metzger received half of the sum the rabbi received from the foreign resident.
In some cases, Metzger allegedly received the funds while ensuring that his name would not be registered as a beneficiary, in a bid to hide the source of the funds, their location and the people who have a right to them. In one case, in 2011, Metzger referred a businessman who immigrated from Russia to the rabbi in order to convert the man's son and daughter. After the conversion, the rabbi received a total sum of $360,000, half of which he handed over to Metzger.
The indictment describes Metzger's method for receiving a cut from funds allotted for donation. Along with his driver, he worked to recruit donors to different associations whose workers agreed to give the rabbi a share from the donations they would receive following his mediation.
In one case, the two raised funds for a yeshiva operating in Metzger's synagogue. According to suspicions, the driver received a $28,000 donation, handed it over to Metzger, and it was divided between the two of them without being transferred to the yeshiva. Another donation of NIS 72,000 was given by an Israeli businessman to an association providing food to the needy. After receiving the funds, the association's director allegedly gave Metzger 30 percent of the donation, about NIS 22,500, without informing the donor. According to the indictment, this was repeated many times.
During Metzger's term as chief rabbi from 2003 to 2013, he allegedly received financial benefits from private people for activities related to his position. These benefits were received on many opportunities, both during private events and as a payment for the rabbi's participation in events held by the people who provided the benefits.
One incident took place when Metzger's son got married in July 2010. In a conversation between the driver and two of the wedding guests, the two agreed to give the rabbi a valuable benefit as a "wedding gift." Following the agreement, the rabbi received NIS 500,000 in 10 cash transactions.
Metzger is also suspected of receiving NIS 70,000 in exchange for crowning the associate of a rich Jew from Moscow as the Caucasian community's rabbi in Israel and of omitting profits from his annual income tax reports. In addition, he allegedly asked his driver to provide a false version of the events and promised to "continue to watch out for him" during the investigation.
A serious indictment against former Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who is suspected of abusing his position and accepting NIS 7 million (about $1.8 million) in bribes, was filed Tuesday by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein after talks between the State Prosecutor's Office and the rabbi's attorneys fell through.
The Jerusalem District Court charged Metzger with fraud, breach of trust, receiving a bribe, theft, conspiring to commit a crime, money laundering and tax offenses. The offenses were allegedly committed during his term as Israel's Ashkenazi chief rabbi.
According to the State Prosecutor's Office, during and as a result of the offenses Metzger accepted an estimated amount of NIS 10 million in bribes, of which he pocketed about NIS 7 million.
Talks for a plea bargain between Metzger and the State Prosecutor's Office ended without any agreements, following the testimony of his former driver, who turned state's evidence, who allegedly served as his messenger and received the funds on his behalf. Due to their close relationship the associate's part in the offenses, Rabbi Metzger allegedly divided the money between himself and his driver.
According to the draft indictment, Metzger allegedly received benefits from a rabbi residing abroad after referring wealthy foreign residents interested in conversion processes to the rabbi. For every such referral, Metzger received half of the sum the rabbi received from the foreign resident.
In some cases, Metzger allegedly received the funds while ensuring that his name would not be registered as a beneficiary, in a bid to hide the source of the funds, their location and the people who have a right to them. In one case, in 2011, Metzger referred a businessman who immigrated from Russia to the rabbi in order to convert the man's son and daughter. After the conversion, the rabbi received a total sum of $360,000, half of which he handed over to Metzger.
The indictment describes Metzger's method for receiving a cut from funds allotted for donation. Along with his driver, he worked to recruit donors to different associations whose workers agreed to give the rabbi a share from the donations they would receive following his mediation.
In one case, the two raised funds for a yeshiva operating in Metzger's synagogue. According to suspicions, the driver received a $28,000 donation, handed it over to Metzger, and it was divided between the two of them without being transferred to the yeshiva. Another donation of NIS 72,000 was given by an Israeli businessman to an association providing food to the needy. After receiving the funds, the association's director allegedly gave Metzger 30 percent of the donation, about NIS 22,500, without informing the donor. According to the indictment, this was repeated many times.
During Metzger's term as chief rabbi from 2003 to 2013, he allegedly received financial benefits from private people for activities related to his position. These benefits were received on many opportunities, both during private events and as a payment for the rabbi's participation in events held by the people who provided the benefits.
One incident took place when Metzger's son got married in July 2010. In a conversation between the driver and two of the wedding guests, the two agreed to give the rabbi a valuable benefit as a "wedding gift." Following the agreement, the rabbi received NIS 500,000 in 10 cash transactions.
Metzger is also suspected of receiving NIS 70,000 in exchange for crowning the associate of a rich Jew from Moscow as the Caucasian community's rabbi in Israel and of omitting profits from his annual income tax reports. In addition, he allegedly asked his driver to provide a false version of the events and promised to "continue to watch out for him" during the investigation.
11 oct 2015
Three Israeli female settlers assaulted a Palestinian man working in a store on Jaffa Street in occupied Jerusalem on Sunday.
The Palestinian man was directly targeted with tear gas in his face, eyewitnesses said.
Israeli sources said that the settlers used pepper spray on the Palestinian before they were arrested by Israeli police.
Tensions have risen sharply over the past week across occupied Jerusalem following a surge of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian people and their properties.
The Palestinian man was directly targeted with tear gas in his face, eyewitnesses said.
Israeli sources said that the settlers used pepper spray on the Palestinian before they were arrested by Israeli police.
Tensions have risen sharply over the past week across occupied Jerusalem following a surge of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian people and their properties.
9 oct 2015
Four Palestinian workers were injured on Friday morning when an Israeli settler attacked with a knife in Daymona in the Negev.
Two of the injured were identified as Ahmad Al Azah and Sa’di Rasrass, from Al Fowar refugee camp in the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
According to Israeli police report the settler stabbing attack was politically motivated and that police officers have managed to arrest him.
Elsewhere, a group of Israeli settlers uprooted on Friday morning olive trees owned by farmers from the village of Rojeeb, to the south of the northern west Bank city of Nablus.
According to Palestinian famers, settlers have stepped up their attacks targeting olive trees as the season of olive harvest began this week.
Two of the injured were identified as Ahmad Al Azah and Sa’di Rasrass, from Al Fowar refugee camp in the southern West Bank city of Hebron.
According to Israeli police report the settler stabbing attack was politically motivated and that police officers have managed to arrest him.
Elsewhere, a group of Israeli settlers uprooted on Friday morning olive trees owned by farmers from the village of Rojeeb, to the south of the northern west Bank city of Nablus.
According to Palestinian famers, settlers have stepped up their attacks targeting olive trees as the season of olive harvest began this week.
20 sept 2015
Anti-nuclear activist, who is grandson of former Israeli ambassador to Japan, arrested on and admits to one of seven suspected Tokyo train arson charges.
Tokyo police have recently arrested an Israeli-Japanese musician, Izaya Noda, over a series of suspected arson incidents on Tokyo's train lines. Noda, 42, is a resident of Musashino, and the grandson of Moshe Barter, who served as Israel's ambassador to Japan in1966-1972.
Tokyo police charged suspect Noda with setting seven fires along the city's railways. In at least three of the incidents, the fires caused disruptions, affecting 150,000 passengers.
According to Tokyo police, Noda admitted his involvement in an August 23 arson, but denied involvement in the other incidents. Investigators quoted him as saying he "could not tolerate Japan Railways for consuming massive amounts of electricity."
Noda’s father said his son had become a vocal critic of nuclear power plant operators after the 2011 disaster at Fukushima. His father added that Izaya had taken part in anti-nuclear rallies outside the Diet (Japan's national legislature).
He continued to say that he could not believe that his son would commit such crimes.
During the investigation, passers-by reported seeing a man throwing a burning object into an electric substation in Shinagawa Ward on August 23, around the time the fire broke out. Security footage later showed a man leaving the scene by bicycle.
Tokyo police said they searched Noda’s home and found a yellow cowboy hat and a bicycle resembling those seen on the video. Police also found a plastic bottle containing a flammable liquid.
Japanese media outlets published a photo of Noda's Israeli ID card, which was issued in Kfar Saba in 2002. According to the ID, Noda has an Israeli mother named Dorit, and a Japanese father named Tatsuya.
Japanese media also reported that Noda had penned a song including the chorus, "Hide until the time comes to attack,” and, “Burn! Burn! Burn!” The reports also mentioned that Noda posted a photo on Instagram showing a plastic bottle wrapped in white object. Police suspect that bottle was used to set one of the fires.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry refused to comment, "We won't comment on the issue for privacy reasons."
Tokyo police have recently arrested an Israeli-Japanese musician, Izaya Noda, over a series of suspected arson incidents on Tokyo's train lines. Noda, 42, is a resident of Musashino, and the grandson of Moshe Barter, who served as Israel's ambassador to Japan in1966-1972.
Tokyo police charged suspect Noda with setting seven fires along the city's railways. In at least three of the incidents, the fires caused disruptions, affecting 150,000 passengers.
According to Tokyo police, Noda admitted his involvement in an August 23 arson, but denied involvement in the other incidents. Investigators quoted him as saying he "could not tolerate Japan Railways for consuming massive amounts of electricity."
Noda’s father said his son had become a vocal critic of nuclear power plant operators after the 2011 disaster at Fukushima. His father added that Izaya had taken part in anti-nuclear rallies outside the Diet (Japan's national legislature).
He continued to say that he could not believe that his son would commit such crimes.
During the investigation, passers-by reported seeing a man throwing a burning object into an electric substation in Shinagawa Ward on August 23, around the time the fire broke out. Security footage later showed a man leaving the scene by bicycle.
Tokyo police said they searched Noda’s home and found a yellow cowboy hat and a bicycle resembling those seen on the video. Police also found a plastic bottle containing a flammable liquid.
Japanese media outlets published a photo of Noda's Israeli ID card, which was issued in Kfar Saba in 2002. According to the ID, Noda has an Israeli mother named Dorit, and a Japanese father named Tatsuya.
Japanese media also reported that Noda had penned a song including the chorus, "Hide until the time comes to attack,” and, “Burn! Burn! Burn!” The reports also mentioned that Noda posted a photo on Instagram showing a plastic bottle wrapped in white object. Police suspect that bottle was used to set one of the fires.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry refused to comment, "We won't comment on the issue for privacy reasons."
Former leading investigator Eran Malka to serve 8 years in prison for accepting bribes from lawyer Ronel Fisher; 'I wish I could turn back time.'
Eran Malka, a police investigator who accepted bribes from prominent Israeli lawyer Ronel Fisher, was sentenced to eight years in prison Sunday after pleading guilty to money laundering, fraud, breach of trust, and obstruction of justice in addition to the charges of graft.
Malka was accused of passing sensitive details of ongoing investigations to Fisher who then used the information to the benefit of his clients.
"The defendant was not only a guardian of the law, but was also supposed to hold and strengthen the foundations of the rule of law," concluded the presiding judge. "The defendant harmed the work of the police." Malka will be granted two weeks under house arrest to prepare for his jail time and say goodbye to his family.
Prosecutors had pushed for a 10-year sentence for Malka, citing the seriousness of his crimes. Malka's lawyer said his client should receive no more than five years after pleading guilty and taking responsibility for his crimes.
Malka himself apologized in court. "I'm so sorry for what I've done," he said. "I wish I could turn back time." The former investigator was placed in solitary confinement five months ago for the duration of his trail because of the secret and sensitive information to which he was privy during his tenure with the police.
Eran Malka, a police investigator who accepted bribes from prominent Israeli lawyer Ronel Fisher, was sentenced to eight years in prison Sunday after pleading guilty to money laundering, fraud, breach of trust, and obstruction of justice in addition to the charges of graft.
Malka was accused of passing sensitive details of ongoing investigations to Fisher who then used the information to the benefit of his clients.
"The defendant was not only a guardian of the law, but was also supposed to hold and strengthen the foundations of the rule of law," concluded the presiding judge. "The defendant harmed the work of the police." Malka will be granted two weeks under house arrest to prepare for his jail time and say goodbye to his family.
Prosecutors had pushed for a 10-year sentence for Malka, citing the seriousness of his crimes. Malka's lawyer said his client should receive no more than five years after pleading guilty and taking responsibility for his crimes.
Malka himself apologized in court. "I'm so sorry for what I've done," he said. "I wish I could turn back time." The former investigator was placed in solitary confinement five months ago for the duration of his trail because of the secret and sensitive information to which he was privy during his tenure with the police.
13 sept 2015
The Israeli Tax Authority has rejected a claim for compensation by officials of the Catholic Church demanding compensation for the burnt Church of Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, which was burnt which was burnt in an Israeli terrorist arson attack, last June.
Israeli Channel 2 has reported, Wednesday, that tax officials, who visited the burnt historic Christian church, where according to Christianity Jesus Christ multiplied loaves and fishes, have decided that the assault "was not a terrorist attack."
Rejecting to label the attack on the Christian church in the Galilee as a terrorist attack means that the Israeli government has no obligation to pay any compensation, as Israel only pays compensation to victims of attacks it deems as terrorist.
The decision of the Tax Authority even ignores statements by senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, who both labeled it as a terrorist attack.
Israel apprehended and charged three Israeli Jewish extremists, believed to be responsible for the attack, and for writing racist graffiti saying, "Idols will be cast out."
The church filed a request for compensation for damages, but their appeal was denied.
The "Times Of Israel" quoted Amir Cohen, a tax authority official, saying that he was not convinced the attack on the church was politically motivated.
Cohen said, "the charges filed against the three Israeli suspects state that their attack carried a religious motivation," and "was based on religious hatred of Christians."
In light of these "findings," and statements, the Tax Authority absolved itself of any financial responsibility, as the law only requires the state to pay compensation for victims of war and terrorism.
It said the attackers believe that the expulsion of Christians is a commandment, as they consider them "idolators."
Christian officials urged Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who visited to the burnt historic church before his visit to the Vatican a week go, to resolve the matter.
Rivlin contacted that Israeli Government Secretary's office, which, according to the Israeli paper, said it would "find a solution."
Israeli Channel 2 has reported, Wednesday, that tax officials, who visited the burnt historic Christian church, where according to Christianity Jesus Christ multiplied loaves and fishes, have decided that the assault "was not a terrorist attack."
Rejecting to label the attack on the Christian church in the Galilee as a terrorist attack means that the Israeli government has no obligation to pay any compensation, as Israel only pays compensation to victims of attacks it deems as terrorist.
The decision of the Tax Authority even ignores statements by senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, who both labeled it as a terrorist attack.
Israel apprehended and charged three Israeli Jewish extremists, believed to be responsible for the attack, and for writing racist graffiti saying, "Idols will be cast out."
The church filed a request for compensation for damages, but their appeal was denied.
The "Times Of Israel" quoted Amir Cohen, a tax authority official, saying that he was not convinced the attack on the church was politically motivated.
Cohen said, "the charges filed against the three Israeli suspects state that their attack carried a religious motivation," and "was based on religious hatred of Christians."
In light of these "findings," and statements, the Tax Authority absolved itself of any financial responsibility, as the law only requires the state to pay compensation for victims of war and terrorism.
It said the attackers believe that the expulsion of Christians is a commandment, as they consider them "idolators."
Christian officials urged Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, who visited to the burnt historic church before his visit to the Vatican a week go, to resolve the matter.
Rivlin contacted that Israeli Government Secretary's office, which, according to the Israeli paper, said it would "find a solution."
