4 june 2015
By Khalid Amayreh
The three Jewish terrorists who last year abducted and burned alive a young Palestinian boy from a refugee camp near Jerusalem on Wednesday recounted their shocking crime before Jerusalem court.
The three settlers murdered Muhammad Abu Khdeir from the Shufat refugee camp north of Jerusalem in early July 2014, allegedly to avenge the killing, ostensibly by Palestinian militants of three settlers a few weeks earlier.
According to their testimonies, the three abducted the 13-year-old boy, beat him on the head using a hard object, and took him to a nearby wood where thy pumped gasoline into his belly. Then they poured more gasoline all over his body before setting him on fire.
Afterward, the three reportedly headed to a Jewish colony in the West Bank where they had a party to celebrate their crime.
In an effort to receive a lenient sentence, one of the murderers claimed that he didn't know "things would turn out this way."
However, it was clear from the beginning that none of the three murderers tried to stop the murder of the innocent Arab boy.
The Israeli justice system, dominated by Talmudic-minded settlers who believe the lives of non-Jews have no sanctity, routinely pass extremely lenient prison sentences on Jews convicted of murdering non-Jews, particularly Palestinians.
In many cases, the courts concoct "extenuating circumstances" in the murderer's or murderers' favor, such as accepting claims that the murder was carried out in self-defense.
And when it is established beyond any reasonable doubt that the crime was committed premeditatedly and with a malicious intent, the judge, nearly always, accepts a plea bargain claim that the murderer has or had mental or psychological problems and that he didn't fully understand what he was doing.
Yosef Ben-David was the driving force behind abduction and killing of the Arab teen Mohammed Abu Khdeir in July 2014, one of two minors accused of the killing told Jerusalem District Court on Wednesday, but said he never believed that it would end up in murder.
"It's shocking," the minor said. "It's hard for me to believe that I was party to such a horrific incident. It’s simply not true that I planned to kill him. I never dreamed that it would end in the way that it did."
One of the murderers, a minor whose name was not released by court order, reportedly told the court that Yosef Ben-David, from the settlement of Adam in the West Bank, decided to murder any Arab to avenge the death of the tree settlers.
"Ben-David was at the boys' funerals," the minor said. "He was much more enthusiastic and heated up. We met at the central bus station, bought some cigarettes and drank energy drinks to spur us on."
In his own testimony, which was obtained by Ynet last year, 30-year-old Ben-David said that, "We decided we had to take revenge for what they did. (We) were saying, 'Let's avenge,' I said my blood was boiling and he said his blood was boiling and the whole country was silent and we were wondering why they did this to them, and what had they been guilty of?"
The minor murderer told the court that on the night of Abu Khdeir's murder, "We went to the International Convention Center then he (Ben-David) already started talking about wanting to pick someone up in his car and beat him. He gave us pills to calm us down. The other youth and I said it was dangerous. We drove around for hours. He stopped next to five small children and every time we were looking for a way to get out of it. I was distressed over the children."
He described how they forced Abu Khdeir into their car.
"I was sure he would let us (the two minors) off on the side of the road. I didn't think he would take him into the woods and beat him there. I thought he would drop it. There was shouting in the car and there was tension. We reached the Jerusalem Forest, and the whole trip we held him from behind. Ben-David asked where the crowbar was, and said that they (the Arabs) have seven souls, then he gave him two blows to the head with the crowbar."
"I said to Ben-David 'enough!'," the accused continued. "I got into the car and suddenly I saw a huge bonfire and understood the meaning. I didn't see with my own eyes that it was Yosef who lit it, but from what was said, he lit it."
Ben-David, the master murderer, reportedly told police last year that he had set Abu Khdeir alight. According to the pathological report, the Arab boy was burnt alive.
"I gave the boy three kicks to the legs, then I took a lighter, I set the boy alight.
The minor told the court that after Abu Khdeir had been killed, "we went to Sacher Park to conceal the evidence. Ben-David gave me instructions on what to do and then went to his home in Adam (a West Bank settlement)."
As mentioned before, Jewish murderers convicted of murdering non-Jews normally receive extremely lenient prison sentences. For example, a Rabi named Moshe Levinger who murdered a Palestinian shopkeeper in 1988 in downtown Hebron was sentenced to 6 months in jail.
According to Israeli sources, the rabbi, who died last month, served only a few days in jail before he was set free.
The three Jewish terrorists who last year abducted and burned alive a young Palestinian boy from a refugee camp near Jerusalem on Wednesday recounted their shocking crime before Jerusalem court.
The three settlers murdered Muhammad Abu Khdeir from the Shufat refugee camp north of Jerusalem in early July 2014, allegedly to avenge the killing, ostensibly by Palestinian militants of three settlers a few weeks earlier.
According to their testimonies, the three abducted the 13-year-old boy, beat him on the head using a hard object, and took him to a nearby wood where thy pumped gasoline into his belly. Then they poured more gasoline all over his body before setting him on fire.
Afterward, the three reportedly headed to a Jewish colony in the West Bank where they had a party to celebrate their crime.
In an effort to receive a lenient sentence, one of the murderers claimed that he didn't know "things would turn out this way."
However, it was clear from the beginning that none of the three murderers tried to stop the murder of the innocent Arab boy.
The Israeli justice system, dominated by Talmudic-minded settlers who believe the lives of non-Jews have no sanctity, routinely pass extremely lenient prison sentences on Jews convicted of murdering non-Jews, particularly Palestinians.
In many cases, the courts concoct "extenuating circumstances" in the murderer's or murderers' favor, such as accepting claims that the murder was carried out in self-defense.
And when it is established beyond any reasonable doubt that the crime was committed premeditatedly and with a malicious intent, the judge, nearly always, accepts a plea bargain claim that the murderer has or had mental or psychological problems and that he didn't fully understand what he was doing.
Yosef Ben-David was the driving force behind abduction and killing of the Arab teen Mohammed Abu Khdeir in July 2014, one of two minors accused of the killing told Jerusalem District Court on Wednesday, but said he never believed that it would end up in murder.
"It's shocking," the minor said. "It's hard for me to believe that I was party to such a horrific incident. It’s simply not true that I planned to kill him. I never dreamed that it would end in the way that it did."
One of the murderers, a minor whose name was not released by court order, reportedly told the court that Yosef Ben-David, from the settlement of Adam in the West Bank, decided to murder any Arab to avenge the death of the tree settlers.
"Ben-David was at the boys' funerals," the minor said. "He was much more enthusiastic and heated up. We met at the central bus station, bought some cigarettes and drank energy drinks to spur us on."
In his own testimony, which was obtained by Ynet last year, 30-year-old Ben-David said that, "We decided we had to take revenge for what they did. (We) were saying, 'Let's avenge,' I said my blood was boiling and he said his blood was boiling and the whole country was silent and we were wondering why they did this to them, and what had they been guilty of?"
The minor murderer told the court that on the night of Abu Khdeir's murder, "We went to the International Convention Center then he (Ben-David) already started talking about wanting to pick someone up in his car and beat him. He gave us pills to calm us down. The other youth and I said it was dangerous. We drove around for hours. He stopped next to five small children and every time we were looking for a way to get out of it. I was distressed over the children."
He described how they forced Abu Khdeir into their car.
"I was sure he would let us (the two minors) off on the side of the road. I didn't think he would take him into the woods and beat him there. I thought he would drop it. There was shouting in the car and there was tension. We reached the Jerusalem Forest, and the whole trip we held him from behind. Ben-David asked where the crowbar was, and said that they (the Arabs) have seven souls, then he gave him two blows to the head with the crowbar."
"I said to Ben-David 'enough!'," the accused continued. "I got into the car and suddenly I saw a huge bonfire and understood the meaning. I didn't see with my own eyes that it was Yosef who lit it, but from what was said, he lit it."
Ben-David, the master murderer, reportedly told police last year that he had set Abu Khdeir alight. According to the pathological report, the Arab boy was burnt alive.
"I gave the boy three kicks to the legs, then I took a lighter, I set the boy alight.
The minor told the court that after Abu Khdeir had been killed, "we went to Sacher Park to conceal the evidence. Ben-David gave me instructions on what to do and then went to his home in Adam (a West Bank settlement)."
As mentioned before, Jewish murderers convicted of murdering non-Jews normally receive extremely lenient prison sentences. For example, a Rabi named Moshe Levinger who murdered a Palestinian shopkeeper in 1988 in downtown Hebron was sentenced to 6 months in jail.
According to Israeli sources, the rabbi, who died last month, served only a few days in jail before he was set free.
Father of the slain Palestinian child, Mohammad Abu Khdeir, 16, who was kidnapped, tortured and burnt to death by Israeli fanatics, in Shu’fat in occupied Jerusalem, last year, stated Wednesday that the trial of his son’s killers is nothing but a farce, only meant for public relations and media manipulation.
The statements came in a protest Wednesday, in front of the District Court during its one of its hearing sessions in the case of Abu Khdeir.
The father, Hussein Abu Khdeir, said Israel keeps postponing its deliberations in the trial of the murderers of his child, and accused Tel Aviv of trying to avoid rendering a verdict.
Christine Reemawi of Palestine TV interviewed Abu Khdeir’s father who said that Israel was holding a farce trial, and that it has no interest in achieving justice.
“It’s all a farce, and as I said before, Israel will claim the killers have psychological issues,” the father said, “This is exactly what happened, and Israel is showing no real interest in seriously prosecuting them.’
The hearing was held in the Central Court in occupied Jerusalem, while many Palestinians, and family members, protested carrying pictures of Abu Khdeir, and calling for justice.
A family member of Abu Kheir said the Palestinians are protesting the injustice of the Israeli so-called justice system, and will never abandon their legitimate rights.
She called for more protests in front of the court, and said the family intends to initiate an extensive campaign, including heading to the International Criminal Court, adding that they do not trust in Israel’s legal system that discriminates against the Palestinians.
The family said it is not expecting justice from the Israeli side, as the courts represent and defend this illegal occupation of Palestine.
The child’s mother also denounced the Israeli legal system, the deliberate discrimination against the Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem, and said that the murderers will eventually face justice for their ugly crime.
The Israeli court held 15 sessions deliberating the case of the slain child, while one of the underage assailants, claimed that he “had family issues,” and alleged, “the oldest defendant forced him to commit the crime.”
Mohammad Abu Khdeir was kidnapped and killed on June 2 2014, in the Shu’fat in occupied Jerusalem.
The statements came in a protest Wednesday, in front of the District Court during its one of its hearing sessions in the case of Abu Khdeir.
The father, Hussein Abu Khdeir, said Israel keeps postponing its deliberations in the trial of the murderers of his child, and accused Tel Aviv of trying to avoid rendering a verdict.
Christine Reemawi of Palestine TV interviewed Abu Khdeir’s father who said that Israel was holding a farce trial, and that it has no interest in achieving justice.
“It’s all a farce, and as I said before, Israel will claim the killers have psychological issues,” the father said, “This is exactly what happened, and Israel is showing no real interest in seriously prosecuting them.’
The hearing was held in the Central Court in occupied Jerusalem, while many Palestinians, and family members, protested carrying pictures of Abu Khdeir, and calling for justice.
A family member of Abu Kheir said the Palestinians are protesting the injustice of the Israeli so-called justice system, and will never abandon their legitimate rights.
She called for more protests in front of the court, and said the family intends to initiate an extensive campaign, including heading to the International Criminal Court, adding that they do not trust in Israel’s legal system that discriminates against the Palestinians.
The family said it is not expecting justice from the Israeli side, as the courts represent and defend this illegal occupation of Palestine.
The child’s mother also denounced the Israeli legal system, the deliberate discrimination against the Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem, and said that the murderers will eventually face justice for their ugly crime.
The Israeli court held 15 sessions deliberating the case of the slain child, while one of the underage assailants, claimed that he “had family issues,” and alleged, “the oldest defendant forced him to commit the crime.”
Mohammad Abu Khdeir was kidnapped and killed on June 2 2014, in the Shu’fat in occupied Jerusalem.
The non-kosher culprit: Pork
Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan attacks acquittal of soldier who ate pork on base, claims act presented a 'slippery slope': 'It’s an identity issue. The IDF is Israel’s army, the only Jewish state in the world. The IDF commands are clear and state that the Jewish army eats only kosher food.'
The IDF has cancelled the punishment for a soldier who brought pork into his base -- and is taking fire from the Deputy Minister of Defense.
The saga began when the IDF backtracked Tuesday on the punishment imposed on a US-born Israeli soldier who violated the Israeli military's kosher rules by eating a pork sandwich while in uniform.
The soldier was initially given an 11-day prison sentence. The punishment was later reduced to being confined to base for the same duration, after relatives spoke to the media and a lawmaker wrote to the defense minister about the case.
In a Facebook post later in the day however, Spokesperson Brigadier-General Moti Almoz withdrew the punishment and acknowledged the army's "mistake" in handling the situation.
"The bottom line is that we made a mistake," wrote Almoz. "The IDF will continue to keep kosher, but won't probe another soldier's sandwich."
Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan attacks acquittal of soldier who ate pork on base, claims act presented a 'slippery slope': 'It’s an identity issue. The IDF is Israel’s army, the only Jewish state in the world. The IDF commands are clear and state that the Jewish army eats only kosher food.'
The IDF has cancelled the punishment for a soldier who brought pork into his base -- and is taking fire from the Deputy Minister of Defense.
The saga began when the IDF backtracked Tuesday on the punishment imposed on a US-born Israeli soldier who violated the Israeli military's kosher rules by eating a pork sandwich while in uniform.
The soldier was initially given an 11-day prison sentence. The punishment was later reduced to being confined to base for the same duration, after relatives spoke to the media and a lawmaker wrote to the defense minister about the case.
In a Facebook post later in the day however, Spokesperson Brigadier-General Moti Almoz withdrew the punishment and acknowledged the army's "mistake" in handling the situation.
"The bottom line is that we made a mistake," wrote Almoz. "The IDF will continue to keep kosher, but won't probe another soldier's sandwich."
MK Rabbi Elie Ben-Dahan (Bayit Yehudi) attacked the forgiving manner with which the army treats kosher regulation violations, and stated that this attitude is leading to a slippery slope that ends in insubordination.
“The issue here is one of identity,” the deputy minister said in reference to the case. “The IDF is Israel’s army, the only Jewish state in the world.” The regulations are clear in that the Jewish people's army eats only kosher food, including secular, religious, traditional, and Haredi soldiers.”
“Breaking regulations, like every other crime, carries a punishment - and the punishment is given according to the discretion of the commander,” Ben-Dahan said. “It is the duty of his superiors to back him up.” He said, “Today there is a disregarding of certain regulations - tomorrow it will be regulations of a different nature. It is unacceptable to agree to the belittling of any regulations.”
According to Ben-Dahan, the IDF’s Kashrut regulations on its bases are meant to strengthen the soldier’s Jewish identity and to protect the nature of its institutions - “and that’s what we will continue to do.”
“The issue here is one of identity,” the deputy minister said in reference to the case. “The IDF is Israel’s army, the only Jewish state in the world.” The regulations are clear in that the Jewish people's army eats only kosher food, including secular, religious, traditional, and Haredi soldiers.”
“Breaking regulations, like every other crime, carries a punishment - and the punishment is given according to the discretion of the commander,” Ben-Dahan said. “It is the duty of his superiors to back him up.” He said, “Today there is a disregarding of certain regulations - tomorrow it will be regulations of a different nature. It is unacceptable to agree to the belittling of any regulations.”
According to Ben-Dahan, the IDF’s Kashrut regulations on its bases are meant to strengthen the soldier’s Jewish identity and to protect the nature of its institutions - “and that’s what we will continue to do.”
3 june 2015
Long-serving politician may head to trial over allegations of bribery, money laundering, fraud, breach of trust, and tax evasion during his years as a cabinet member.
The Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office said Wednesday that it planned to put former minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer on trial, pending a hearing about five different affairs. Ben-Eliezer is suspected of bribery, money laundering, fraud, breach of trust, and tax evasion.
Ben-Eliezer, who was a candidate for president before the scandal erupted, allegedly demanded and accepted money from various businessmen in exchange for activities related to his position.
The money was purportedly received between 2007 and 2014, when Ben-Eliezer served as a member of Knesset and sometimes minister, and was allegedly used to purchase real estate, among other things. He is also suspected of hiding the exchange of foreign currency worth hundreds of dollars, which he kept in cash in safes at his home and bank.
Ben-Eliezer is further alleged to have submitted false statements of capital to the Knesset speaker by failing to report accumulated capital and assets, and to have neglected to file reports with the Tax Authority and concealing taxable income.
According to the accusations, Ben-Eliezer approached businessman Avraham Nanikashvili in 2011 and successfully requested $400,000 in exchange for favors made possible by the MK's role as Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor.
Ben-Eliezer's attorneys, Navot Tel-Zur and Tal Shapira, said their client was called in for investigation only four days before a presidential election, despite the fact that according to them, the information that prompted his questioning was known to the police for a year prior
The Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office said Wednesday that it planned to put former minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer on trial, pending a hearing about five different affairs. Ben-Eliezer is suspected of bribery, money laundering, fraud, breach of trust, and tax evasion.
Ben-Eliezer, who was a candidate for president before the scandal erupted, allegedly demanded and accepted money from various businessmen in exchange for activities related to his position.
The money was purportedly received between 2007 and 2014, when Ben-Eliezer served as a member of Knesset and sometimes minister, and was allegedly used to purchase real estate, among other things. He is also suspected of hiding the exchange of foreign currency worth hundreds of dollars, which he kept in cash in safes at his home and bank.
Ben-Eliezer is further alleged to have submitted false statements of capital to the Knesset speaker by failing to report accumulated capital and assets, and to have neglected to file reports with the Tax Authority and concealing taxable income.
According to the accusations, Ben-Eliezer approached businessman Avraham Nanikashvili in 2011 and successfully requested $400,000 in exchange for favors made possible by the MK's role as Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor.
Ben-Eliezer's attorneys, Navot Tel-Zur and Tal Shapira, said their client was called in for investigation only four days before a presidential election, despite the fact that according to them, the information that prompted his questioning was known to the police for a year prior
Yosef Ben-David in court on Wednesday
One of two minors charged with beating and setting Mohammed Abu Khdeir on fire in July 2014 says he 'couldn't say no' to key suspect Ben David.
Yosef Ben-David was the driving force behind abduction and killing of Arab teen Mohammed Abu Khdeir in July 2014, one of two minors accused of the killing told Jerusalem District Court on Wednesday, but said he never believed that it would end in murder.
Abu Khdeir, from Shuafat in East Jerusalem, was killed in early July, allegedly by Yosef Ben-David and the two minors, whose names cannot be published. They allegedly forced him into their car, drove him to a deserted spot in Jerusalem Forest, beat him unconscious and set him on fire.
"It's shocking," the minor said. "It's hard for me to believe that I was party to such a horrific incident. It;'s simply not true that I planned to kill him. I never dreamed that it would end in the way that it did."
The minor told the court on Wednesday that Ben-David had been driven by the murders of three Israeli teens in the West Bank shortly before the attack.
"Ben-David was at the boys' funerals," the minor said. "He was much more enthusiastic and heated up. We met at the central bus station, bought some cigarettes and drank energy drinks to spur us on."
In his own testimony, which was obtained by Ynet last year, 30-year-old Ben-David said that, "We decided we had to take revenge for what they (the terrorists) did. (We) were saying, 'Let's avenge,' I said my blood was boiling and he said his blood was boiling and the whole country was silent and we were wondering why they did this to them, and what had they been guilty of?"
The minor told the court that on the night of Abu Khdeir's murder, "We went to the International Convention Center then he (Ben-David) already started talking about wanting to pick someone up in his car and beat him. He gave us pills to calm us down. The other youth and I said it was dangerous. We drove around for hours. He stopped next to five small children and every time we were looking for a way to get out of it. I was distressed over the children."
The minor described how they forced Abu Khdeir into their car, but said he never imagined it would end in murder.
"I was sure he would let us (the two minors) off on the side of the road. I didn't think he would take him into the woods and beat him there. I thought he would drop it. There was shouting in the car and there was tension. We reached the Jerusalem Forest, and the whole trip we held him from behind. Ben-David asked where the crowbar was, and said that they (the Arabs) have seven souls, then he gave him two blows to the head with the crowbar."
At this point in the trial, Abu Khdeir's parents burst out, and began cursing the defendant in Arabic.
One of two minors charged with beating and setting Mohammed Abu Khdeir on fire in July 2014 says he 'couldn't say no' to key suspect Ben David.
Yosef Ben-David was the driving force behind abduction and killing of Arab teen Mohammed Abu Khdeir in July 2014, one of two minors accused of the killing told Jerusalem District Court on Wednesday, but said he never believed that it would end in murder.
Abu Khdeir, from Shuafat in East Jerusalem, was killed in early July, allegedly by Yosef Ben-David and the two minors, whose names cannot be published. They allegedly forced him into their car, drove him to a deserted spot in Jerusalem Forest, beat him unconscious and set him on fire.
"It's shocking," the minor said. "It's hard for me to believe that I was party to such a horrific incident. It;'s simply not true that I planned to kill him. I never dreamed that it would end in the way that it did."
The minor told the court on Wednesday that Ben-David had been driven by the murders of three Israeli teens in the West Bank shortly before the attack.
"Ben-David was at the boys' funerals," the minor said. "He was much more enthusiastic and heated up. We met at the central bus station, bought some cigarettes and drank energy drinks to spur us on."
In his own testimony, which was obtained by Ynet last year, 30-year-old Ben-David said that, "We decided we had to take revenge for what they (the terrorists) did. (We) were saying, 'Let's avenge,' I said my blood was boiling and he said his blood was boiling and the whole country was silent and we were wondering why they did this to them, and what had they been guilty of?"
The minor told the court that on the night of Abu Khdeir's murder, "We went to the International Convention Center then he (Ben-David) already started talking about wanting to pick someone up in his car and beat him. He gave us pills to calm us down. The other youth and I said it was dangerous. We drove around for hours. He stopped next to five small children and every time we were looking for a way to get out of it. I was distressed over the children."
The minor described how they forced Abu Khdeir into their car, but said he never imagined it would end in murder.
"I was sure he would let us (the two minors) off on the side of the road. I didn't think he would take him into the woods and beat him there. I thought he would drop it. There was shouting in the car and there was tension. We reached the Jerusalem Forest, and the whole trip we held him from behind. Ben-David asked where the crowbar was, and said that they (the Arabs) have seven souls, then he gave him two blows to the head with the crowbar."
At this point in the trial, Abu Khdeir's parents burst out, and began cursing the defendant in Arabic.
Mohammed Abu Khdeir
"I said to Ben-David 'enough!'," the accused continued. "I got into the car and suddenly I saw a huge bonfire and understood the meaning. I didn't see with my own eyes that it was Yosef who lit it, but from what was said, he lit it."
Ben-David himself told police last year that he had set Abu Khdeir alight. According to the pathological report, the teen was burnt alive.
"I gave the boy three kicks to the legs, and saying as I did 'This is for Eyal, and this is for Naftali, and this is for Gil-Ad'." Ben-David said, referring to Eyal Yifrach, Naftali Frenkel and Gil-Ad Shaer, the three Israeli teens abducted and murdered in the West Bank in June 2014. "I took a lighter, I set the boy alight."
The minor told the court that after Abu Khdeir had been killed, "we went to Sacher Park to conceal the evidence. Ben-David gave me instructions on what to do and then went to his home in Adam (a West Bank settlement)."
Hussein Abu Khdeir, Mohammed's father, once again burst out at this time. "They had a party in Adam with a guitar!" he cried.
The defendant replied that, "Ben David said if they ask us what we did that night, we should say that we played guitar. We were in shock at what had happened."
The defendant also painted a picture of a close relationship with Ben-David, and said that he could not refuse him.
"I was very attached to him," he said. "I couldn't say no to him. I was at war with myself, I was scared to do something, but on the other hand I could not say no to him."
Ben-David, who is married with two children, has a history of psychiatric problems. He was previously arrested on suspicion of trying to kill his own baby daughter.
"I said to Ben-David 'enough!'," the accused continued. "I got into the car and suddenly I saw a huge bonfire and understood the meaning. I didn't see with my own eyes that it was Yosef who lit it, but from what was said, he lit it."
Ben-David himself told police last year that he had set Abu Khdeir alight. According to the pathological report, the teen was burnt alive.
"I gave the boy three kicks to the legs, and saying as I did 'This is for Eyal, and this is for Naftali, and this is for Gil-Ad'." Ben-David said, referring to Eyal Yifrach, Naftali Frenkel and Gil-Ad Shaer, the three Israeli teens abducted and murdered in the West Bank in June 2014. "I took a lighter, I set the boy alight."
The minor told the court that after Abu Khdeir had been killed, "we went to Sacher Park to conceal the evidence. Ben-David gave me instructions on what to do and then went to his home in Adam (a West Bank settlement)."
Hussein Abu Khdeir, Mohammed's father, once again burst out at this time. "They had a party in Adam with a guitar!" he cried.
The defendant replied that, "Ben David said if they ask us what we did that night, we should say that we played guitar. We were in shock at what had happened."
The defendant also painted a picture of a close relationship with Ben-David, and said that he could not refuse him.
"I was very attached to him," he said. "I couldn't say no to him. I was at war with myself, I was scared to do something, but on the other hand I could not say no to him."
Ben-David, who is married with two children, has a history of psychiatric problems. He was previously arrested on suspicion of trying to kill his own baby daughter.
2 june 2015
IDF admits 'mistake' in imposing 11-day prison sentence on soldier who's grandmother sent him to base with a pork sandwich.
The IDF backtracked Tuesday on a punishment imposed on a US-born Israeli soldier who violated the Israeli military's kosher rules by eating a pork sandwich while in uniform.
The soldier was initially given an 11-day prison sentence. The punishment was later converted to being confined to base for the same duration - after relatives talked to the media and a lawmaker wrote to the defense minister about the case.
The military said early Tuesday that the soldier, whose name has not been released, "violated rules and regulations," which required him to be disciplined. In a Facebook post later in the day however, Spokesperson Brigadier-General Moti Almoz withdrew the punishment and acknowledged the army's "mistake" in handling the situation. "The bottom line is that we made a mistake," wrote Almoz. "The IDF will continue to keep kosher, but won't probe another soldier's sandwich.
"There is tension in Israeli society and different stances and opinions exist," he continued. "In the IDF, there is room for everyone." Israel's army maintains kosher kitchens on its bases. Israel Radio says the soldier, who moved to Israel from Boston recently, was unaware of the army's strict dietary restrictions and was merely snacking on a lunch his secular grandmother had made him.
The IDF backtracked Tuesday on a punishment imposed on a US-born Israeli soldier who violated the Israeli military's kosher rules by eating a pork sandwich while in uniform.
The soldier was initially given an 11-day prison sentence. The punishment was later converted to being confined to base for the same duration - after relatives talked to the media and a lawmaker wrote to the defense minister about the case.
The military said early Tuesday that the soldier, whose name has not been released, "violated rules and regulations," which required him to be disciplined. In a Facebook post later in the day however, Spokesperson Brigadier-General Moti Almoz withdrew the punishment and acknowledged the army's "mistake" in handling the situation. "The bottom line is that we made a mistake," wrote Almoz. "The IDF will continue to keep kosher, but won't probe another soldier's sandwich.
"There is tension in Israeli society and different stances and opinions exist," he continued. "In the IDF, there is room for everyone." Israel's army maintains kosher kitchens on its bases. Israel Radio says the soldier, who moved to Israel from Boston recently, was unaware of the army's strict dietary restrictions and was merely snacking on a lunch his secular grandmother had made him.
30 may 2015
Israeli Ethiopians protest police brutality
Rate of Israeli Ethiopians at Ofek detention center is almost 12 times bigger than rate of the community in the general population.
Concerning data released by the Israel Prison Service this week show an astronomic rate of Israeli Ethiopian teenagers who are jailed at the Ofek detention center in the Sharon Prison, the only detention facility in Israel for under-18s.
Data presented on Thursday to MKs Michal Rozin (Meretz), Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid) and Meirav Ben-Ari (Kulanu) who toured the detention center showed that out of 135 teenagers imprisoned in Ofek, 27 of them were of Ethiopian descent. When looking at just the Jewish population at the detention center (65 teens) the situation becomes even more concerning - 41.5 percent of Jewish detainees are of Ethiopian descent.
Compared to their high rates in the detention center, the size of the Ethiopian community in the Israeli population is very small and stands at only about 1.7 percent. Among the Israeli Ethiopian detainees, 11 are serving time for property offenses, seven for assault and intimidation, six for robbery, four for sexual offenses, three for battery, one for manslaughter and one for disturbing the public order.
"This is discrimination and racism, an Ethiopian teenager is arrested based on the color of his skin. They were marked before committing any offense," accused Hadar Tabaga, an activist in an organization aiding risk youth. "No one listens to them and they are not given the right to speak." According to Ziva Mekonen-Dagu, the head of the Israel Association of Ethiopian Jews, "This is not just a problem of Israeli Ethiopians, it is a problem of the entire Israeli society.
No child is born bad, these children become victims. If the welfare system took care of them, these children would not have gotten into these situations." The data, MK Rozin said, should be "a wakeup call" to the government. "The teenagers who reach this detention center are part of the most discriminated against fringe populations in Israel both in resources and in infrastructure - Ethiopians and Arabs," she said.
Rozin called on the government to increase the resources to these communities and pay more attention to the periphery.
Rate of Israeli Ethiopians at Ofek detention center is almost 12 times bigger than rate of the community in the general population.
Concerning data released by the Israel Prison Service this week show an astronomic rate of Israeli Ethiopian teenagers who are jailed at the Ofek detention center in the Sharon Prison, the only detention facility in Israel for under-18s.
Data presented on Thursday to MKs Michal Rozin (Meretz), Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid) and Meirav Ben-Ari (Kulanu) who toured the detention center showed that out of 135 teenagers imprisoned in Ofek, 27 of them were of Ethiopian descent. When looking at just the Jewish population at the detention center (65 teens) the situation becomes even more concerning - 41.5 percent of Jewish detainees are of Ethiopian descent.
Compared to their high rates in the detention center, the size of the Ethiopian community in the Israeli population is very small and stands at only about 1.7 percent. Among the Israeli Ethiopian detainees, 11 are serving time for property offenses, seven for assault and intimidation, six for robbery, four for sexual offenses, three for battery, one for manslaughter and one for disturbing the public order.
"This is discrimination and racism, an Ethiopian teenager is arrested based on the color of his skin. They were marked before committing any offense," accused Hadar Tabaga, an activist in an organization aiding risk youth. "No one listens to them and they are not given the right to speak." According to Ziva Mekonen-Dagu, the head of the Israel Association of Ethiopian Jews, "This is not just a problem of Israeli Ethiopians, it is a problem of the entire Israeli society.
No child is born bad, these children become victims. If the welfare system took care of them, these children would not have gotten into these situations." The data, MK Rozin said, should be "a wakeup call" to the government. "The teenagers who reach this detention center are part of the most discriminated against fringe populations in Israel both in resources and in infrastructure - Ethiopians and Arabs," she said.
Rozin called on the government to increase the resources to these communities and pay more attention to the periphery.
28 may 2015
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Five combat soldiers confined to base for 21 days after video of them dancing to 'Golden Boy' becomes a viral hit; IDF: The background was the problem.
Five IDF soldiers from an engineering battalion in the paratroopers have found themselves in trouble for a video showing them dancing to the Israeli entry to this year's Eurovision song contest. The video was a hit, but in the eyes of their commander, who sentenced them to 21 days confinement to their base. The video, which was filmed in the run-up to last Saturday's contest, shows the five dancing in formation to "Golden Boy", sung by Nadav Guedj. |
The song came ninth in the competition. The troops were filmed dancing, in armored vests and carrying their weapons, with an armored vehicle in the background. The video was filmed the West Bank, and even shows the perimeter fence.
On the last line of the chorus - "Let me show you Tel Aviv" - the song ends, and the soldier filming the video turns to the camera and jokingly says "what Tel Aviv?", followed by an expletive.
The footage was uploaded to Facebook and received thousands of shares and likes.
An IDF source said: "The video in question was filmed during life-threatening operational activities and recorded on a mobile phone, which are forbidden during operations of this nature. We stress that the soldiers were not punished for the content of the video."
According to the source, a Molotov cocktail had been thrown recently at the site at which the soldiers filmed the video, and there is hostile terrorist activity in the area.
"During the investigation by the battalion commander, the soldiers expressed remorse for their irresponsible actions," the source said.
Friends of the soldiers in the battalion were outraged by the severity of the punishment.
"They did not do it during guard duty or endanger human life. The army is overreacting," one said. "We fought in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge, and in three months we are supposed to be released from the army, so why such a severe punishment?"
The soldiers' relatives said they only made the humorous video to mark the Eurovision, and also questioned the punishment.
"They received positive responses. It presents a different side of the army, and we do not understand what is so wrong with presenting an image that can only be good for Israel in the world."
Singer Nadav Guedj also responded to the video, writing on his Facebook page: "I know that of course they should not have done it, but it is made us so happy in Austria to see them dancing and happy. So guys, as you sit in detention, I will send you the 'Golden Boy' shirts, so you can dance as civilians."
On the last line of the chorus - "Let me show you Tel Aviv" - the song ends, and the soldier filming the video turns to the camera and jokingly says "what Tel Aviv?", followed by an expletive.
The footage was uploaded to Facebook and received thousands of shares and likes.
An IDF source said: "The video in question was filmed during life-threatening operational activities and recorded on a mobile phone, which are forbidden during operations of this nature. We stress that the soldiers were not punished for the content of the video."
According to the source, a Molotov cocktail had been thrown recently at the site at which the soldiers filmed the video, and there is hostile terrorist activity in the area.
"During the investigation by the battalion commander, the soldiers expressed remorse for their irresponsible actions," the source said.
Friends of the soldiers in the battalion were outraged by the severity of the punishment.
"They did not do it during guard duty or endanger human life. The army is overreacting," one said. "We fought in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge, and in three months we are supposed to be released from the army, so why such a severe punishment?"
The soldiers' relatives said they only made the humorous video to mark the Eurovision, and also questioned the punishment.
"They received positive responses. It presents a different side of the army, and we do not understand what is so wrong with presenting an image that can only be good for Israel in the world."
Singer Nadav Guedj also responded to the video, writing on his Facebook page: "I know that of course they should not have done it, but it is made us so happy in Austria to see them dancing and happy. So guys, as you sit in detention, I will send you the 'Golden Boy' shirts, so you can dance as civilians."
26 may 2015
The main players in the affair
Senior police officer says Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino called to recommend services of lawyer Ronel Fisher, who currently stands at the center of a corruption scandal; Danino's office denies claim.
Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino on Tuesday became the latest high-profile figure to be named in the Police Internal Investigation Department's corruption probe into well-known Israeli lawyer Ronel Fisher, who is suspected of bribing police in return for information to help his clients.
Among those arrested in connection to the case are former Maariv publisher Ofer Nimrodi; Eran Malka, a retired police superintendent from the national fraud squad; and former Tel Aviv district attorney Ruth David.
According to new information obtained by the police, some time prior to Fisher's arrest last year, a high-ranking police officer had legal problems and required an attorney.
The officer said he received a telephone call from Commissioner Danino, who recommended hiring Fisher. The officer apparently met Fisher but ultimately decided not to employ him. "No one is saying that this is a criminal matter," said a source familiar with the investigation. "That said, if you are investigating, you have to investigate everything – and that means all the ties Fisher had to the police."
Danino's office dismissed the claims as imaginary. "The commissioner never recommended attorneys to policemen or officers, including in this case," it said. Fisher was arrested last year, moments after taking possession of a suitcase filled with $150,000 in bribes that he said would be used to bribe police officers.
The chairman of the Ashdod port workers union, Alon Hassan, was responsible for the lawyer's arrest in a sting operation led by the Justice Ministry's Police Investigation Unit.
"Give me $150,000 and I will solve all your problems," Fisher allegedly told Hassan, the union boss at the center of his own corruption probe first revealed two months ago. When Hassan left the coffee house where he had Fisher, police swooped in to arrest the lawyer.
During his remand hearing, prosecutors claimed Fisher had used his connections to senior police officials, some of whom he had even represented, to pass information on to Hassan regarding the investigation into port corruption, as well as making an offer to put the investigation to rest.
Prosecutors also claimed that Hassan had received advanced warning from Fisher regarding a police plan to raid the port, giving port officials time to hide potentially incriminating evidence.
Attorney Ruth David, who held senior posts in the Justice Ministry and was involved in the decision-making process for sensitive cases, was arrested this month on suspicion of involvement in the affair.
The police internal investigations department suspects that she was involved in contacts with business people under investigation, and is suspected of leaking information that she received from Fisher.
According to a state witness, and information taken from Fisher's cell phone by police, she was also allegedly involved in some of the illegal activity committed by Fisher.
Senior police officer says Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino called to recommend services of lawyer Ronel Fisher, who currently stands at the center of a corruption scandal; Danino's office denies claim.
Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino on Tuesday became the latest high-profile figure to be named in the Police Internal Investigation Department's corruption probe into well-known Israeli lawyer Ronel Fisher, who is suspected of bribing police in return for information to help his clients.
Among those arrested in connection to the case are former Maariv publisher Ofer Nimrodi; Eran Malka, a retired police superintendent from the national fraud squad; and former Tel Aviv district attorney Ruth David.
According to new information obtained by the police, some time prior to Fisher's arrest last year, a high-ranking police officer had legal problems and required an attorney.
The officer said he received a telephone call from Commissioner Danino, who recommended hiring Fisher. The officer apparently met Fisher but ultimately decided not to employ him. "No one is saying that this is a criminal matter," said a source familiar with the investigation. "That said, if you are investigating, you have to investigate everything – and that means all the ties Fisher had to the police."
Danino's office dismissed the claims as imaginary. "The commissioner never recommended attorneys to policemen or officers, including in this case," it said. Fisher was arrested last year, moments after taking possession of a suitcase filled with $150,000 in bribes that he said would be used to bribe police officers.
The chairman of the Ashdod port workers union, Alon Hassan, was responsible for the lawyer's arrest in a sting operation led by the Justice Ministry's Police Investigation Unit.
"Give me $150,000 and I will solve all your problems," Fisher allegedly told Hassan, the union boss at the center of his own corruption probe first revealed two months ago. When Hassan left the coffee house where he had Fisher, police swooped in to arrest the lawyer.
During his remand hearing, prosecutors claimed Fisher had used his connections to senior police officials, some of whom he had even represented, to pass information on to Hassan regarding the investigation into port corruption, as well as making an offer to put the investigation to rest.
Prosecutors also claimed that Hassan had received advanced warning from Fisher regarding a police plan to raid the port, giving port officials time to hide potentially incriminating evidence.
Attorney Ruth David, who held senior posts in the Justice Ministry and was involved in the decision-making process for sensitive cases, was arrested this month on suspicion of involvement in the affair.
The police internal investigations department suspects that she was involved in contacts with business people under investigation, and is suspected of leaking information that she received from Fisher.
According to a state witness, and information taken from Fisher's cell phone by police, she was also allegedly involved in some of the illegal activity committed by Fisher.
Airports Authority fires 5 employees after internal investigation finds they stole tobacco from Palestinians going through security at the border crossing; Authority criticized for not filing police complaint.
Five Israel Airports Authority security employees were caught stealing from Palestinians who were entering Israel from Jordan through the Allenby Bridge border crossing, Ynet learned on Tuesday.
They were fired following an internal investigation, but the Authority did not file a complaint with the police against them. "The Authority decided to take the law into its own hands," one of the crossing's employees said. The Israel Airports Authority launched an internal investigation in February following complaints on theft from Palestinians who underwent security checks at the crossing.
The five employees admitted that they stole from Palestinians going through the border crossing over a long period of time, saying they took tobacco and other personal items. The theft occurred while the Palestinians placed their luggage at the baggage screening machine. Despite the severity of the security employees' actions, the Israel Airports Authority did not turn to the police, nor did it file complaints against them.
"This is not the first time the Airports Authority fails to pass criminal cases to the police's handling and instead chooses to take the law into its own hands," a source at the border crossing said. "In such a case, when such serious harm was caused to the Palestinians, the police must be involved. I guess since these are Palestinians, the Authority did not consider this very grave."
The Allenby Bridge border crossing is the most southern crossing on the Jordan River and serves the Palestinian population and tourists, as Israelis are not allowed to go through the crossing. In addition, goods going between Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan also go through the border crossing.
The Israel Airports Authority said in response that "a probe done by the Airports Authority found that five employees of a private contractor took tobacco from the travelers' bags. The Authority conducted a comprehensive examination with the employees, and their employment was terminated after it was discovered they took tobacco during security checks of the travelers' luggage and took it out of the terminal for their private use."
The Authority said it views the case gravely, "and is initiating action to prevent such phenomena, and does not show leniency on ethical issues."
Five Israel Airports Authority security employees were caught stealing from Palestinians who were entering Israel from Jordan through the Allenby Bridge border crossing, Ynet learned on Tuesday.
They were fired following an internal investigation, but the Authority did not file a complaint with the police against them. "The Authority decided to take the law into its own hands," one of the crossing's employees said. The Israel Airports Authority launched an internal investigation in February following complaints on theft from Palestinians who underwent security checks at the crossing.
The five employees admitted that they stole from Palestinians going through the border crossing over a long period of time, saying they took tobacco and other personal items. The theft occurred while the Palestinians placed their luggage at the baggage screening machine. Despite the severity of the security employees' actions, the Israel Airports Authority did not turn to the police, nor did it file complaints against them.
"This is not the first time the Airports Authority fails to pass criminal cases to the police's handling and instead chooses to take the law into its own hands," a source at the border crossing said. "In such a case, when such serious harm was caused to the Palestinians, the police must be involved. I guess since these are Palestinians, the Authority did not consider this very grave."
The Allenby Bridge border crossing is the most southern crossing on the Jordan River and serves the Palestinian population and tourists, as Israelis are not allowed to go through the crossing. In addition, goods going between Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan also go through the border crossing.
The Israel Airports Authority said in response that "a probe done by the Airports Authority found that five employees of a private contractor took tobacco from the travelers' bags. The Authority conducted a comprehensive examination with the employees, and their employment was terminated after it was discovered they took tobacco during security checks of the travelers' luggage and took it out of the terminal for their private use."
The Authority said it views the case gravely, "and is initiating action to prevent such phenomena, and does not show leniency on ethical issues."
19 may 2015
A far-reaching investigation, involving murder, attempted assassinations and drugs
Heavy police presence at Rishon Lezion courthouse for remand hearings of 44 suspects arrested in massive probe into organized crime.
The Magistrate's Court in Rishon Lezion was set to become a massive police fortress on Tuesday morning, with the remand hearings for 44 suspects arrested Monday in a far-reaching operation against organized crime in Israel.
The operation, known as Case 512, targeted members of Israel's biggest criminal organization and its affiliate organizations.
The investigation itself had an international focus, involving a number of countries, and resulted in evidence for crimes involving weapons and drug trafficking, as well as various crimes typical of criminal organizations.
Given the severity of the charges - at least seven murders and eight assassination attempts as well as the weapons and drugs offenses – the court is likely to extend the suspects' remands, thereby giving the police a chance to move ahead with the investigation. This is also common in high profile cases.
This case is being handled by the National Unit for International Investigations and the Tel Aviv central investigative unit, and is the most extensive probe into criminal activity in the last decade.
Remand hearings for such a large number of suspects will be a complex logistical operation. More than 100 detectives, riot police and undercover officers were to be deployed around the courthouse from the morning hours.
A special operational plan was implemented to cater for the mass disarray among the criminal organizations whose leaders have been arrested, and out of concern that there would be an attack on a suspect who could potentially cause "damage" to senior members of the criminal world.
Among those who were set to appear in court were the suspected head of a criminal organization and five suspected senior members of organizations that emanated from it. Due to the unprecedented number of detainees, the police have reserved two halls in the court.
Police are also preparing for the arrival of relatives, friends and "soldiers" from criminal organizations who are still free, and who want to support the detainees. The police have also taken into account that the shock over the arrests will very quickly switch to anger in light of rumors about the conduct of certain suspected criminals in the case.
"Years of patience have paid off for us and now the criminals realize that," said a senior officer involved in the investigation.
At this stage there is still ambiguity about most of the details of the investigation, in order to keep key areas of it from the suspects, but underworld is already beginning to understand that this affair is not like previous waves of arrests among the criminal organizations.
Heavy police presence at Rishon Lezion courthouse for remand hearings of 44 suspects arrested in massive probe into organized crime.
The Magistrate's Court in Rishon Lezion was set to become a massive police fortress on Tuesday morning, with the remand hearings for 44 suspects arrested Monday in a far-reaching operation against organized crime in Israel.
The operation, known as Case 512, targeted members of Israel's biggest criminal organization and its affiliate organizations.
The investigation itself had an international focus, involving a number of countries, and resulted in evidence for crimes involving weapons and drug trafficking, as well as various crimes typical of criminal organizations.
Given the severity of the charges - at least seven murders and eight assassination attempts as well as the weapons and drugs offenses – the court is likely to extend the suspects' remands, thereby giving the police a chance to move ahead with the investigation. This is also common in high profile cases.
This case is being handled by the National Unit for International Investigations and the Tel Aviv central investigative unit, and is the most extensive probe into criminal activity in the last decade.
Remand hearings for such a large number of suspects will be a complex logistical operation. More than 100 detectives, riot police and undercover officers were to be deployed around the courthouse from the morning hours.
A special operational plan was implemented to cater for the mass disarray among the criminal organizations whose leaders have been arrested, and out of concern that there would be an attack on a suspect who could potentially cause "damage" to senior members of the criminal world.
Among those who were set to appear in court were the suspected head of a criminal organization and five suspected senior members of organizations that emanated from it. Due to the unprecedented number of detainees, the police have reserved two halls in the court.
Police are also preparing for the arrival of relatives, friends and "soldiers" from criminal organizations who are still free, and who want to support the detainees. The police have also taken into account that the shock over the arrests will very quickly switch to anger in light of rumors about the conduct of certain suspected criminals in the case.
"Years of patience have paid off for us and now the criminals realize that," said a senior officer involved in the investigation.
At this stage there is still ambiguity about most of the details of the investigation, in order to keep key areas of it from the suspects, but underworld is already beginning to understand that this affair is not like previous waves of arrests among the criminal organizations.
