19 june 2015
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Following suspicion that fire at church in Galilee was hate crime, local Christian leaders urge authorities to do more and warn that pilgrims are reconsidering their trips.
The investigation of the suspected arson at the Church of the Loaves and Fishes Thursday morning was transferred to the West Bank nationalist crime department, following suspicion that it was nationalistically motivated and a hate crime. Locals were shocked by the fire and graffiti sprayed on the wall - "and the idols will be cut down." After the fire, the fire department issued an update that the team headed by the head of investigations in the north, Reshef Oscar Fox, determined that it was set deliberately in a criminal act. Meanwhile, researchers from the police forensic science department |
collected evidence at the site, in at least two areas in which the fire was started.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, to speed up the investigation.
Father Gregory Collins, head of the Order of Saint Benedict in Israel, which maintains the site, made his way north from Jerusalem, while the nuns and monks at the scene struggled to make sense of the destruction.
I consider such an attack to be not just an attack on a religious site, on a sanctuary, but also on one of the most visited places in Israel," Collins said. "It is also an attack on freedom of speech, democracy and the right to live here."
Church employees said a relaxation site belonging to the church was vandalized a year ago.
Worshipers continued to arrive at the church throughout the day. "It's horrible," said one local visitor. "It's simply a racist act."
Several Jewish women from Tiberias who work at an institute for people with special needs arrived to show solidarity with the church. "They're amazing people," said one woman. "Sometimes we sleep in one of the buildings and start going on trips from here. It's a very serious incident that has appalled us all."
Two people were lightly injured in the fire – a 79-year-old male employee and a 19-year-old female pilgrim.
Wadia Abu Nasser, the communications adviser of the Catholic Church in Israel, called for a strong reaction by the state.
"This is another incident in a chain of incidents," he said. "Grave desecration at the cemetery in Bar'am, arson in Latrun and Jerusalem, attacks on priests. We understand that this is just a handful, but this handful causes tremendous damage. Not just the damage worth millions of shekels here, but worldwide damage.
"People are calling me from all over the world to see what the situation is. Pilgrims are considering whether it's safe to visit here. It's really terrible. I call on the authorities to deal with this incident and the chain of incidents in every way, both from a security perspective and from a cultural-educational one." Abu Nasser told Ynet that "the Vatican is up to date, and not just them. We are getting phone calls from all over the world. There is concern. There are even pilgrims who are debating not coming to Israel."
Netanyahu spoke on Thursday with Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen and instructed him to speed up the investigation into the fire. "Freedom of worship in Israel is one of our cornerstones and is enshrined in law," he said.
Police said they initially arrested 16 youths, all religious Jewish seminary students from West Bank settlements, but released them shortly after. Their lawyer, Itamar Ben Gvir, told Army Radio the police had no evidence against the youths and that they were under suspicion simply for looking like young settlers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen, to speed up the investigation.
Father Gregory Collins, head of the Order of Saint Benedict in Israel, which maintains the site, made his way north from Jerusalem, while the nuns and monks at the scene struggled to make sense of the destruction.
I consider such an attack to be not just an attack on a religious site, on a sanctuary, but also on one of the most visited places in Israel," Collins said. "It is also an attack on freedom of speech, democracy and the right to live here."
Church employees said a relaxation site belonging to the church was vandalized a year ago.
Worshipers continued to arrive at the church throughout the day. "It's horrible," said one local visitor. "It's simply a racist act."
Several Jewish women from Tiberias who work at an institute for people with special needs arrived to show solidarity with the church. "They're amazing people," said one woman. "Sometimes we sleep in one of the buildings and start going on trips from here. It's a very serious incident that has appalled us all."
Two people were lightly injured in the fire – a 79-year-old male employee and a 19-year-old female pilgrim.
Wadia Abu Nasser, the communications adviser of the Catholic Church in Israel, called for a strong reaction by the state.
"This is another incident in a chain of incidents," he said. "Grave desecration at the cemetery in Bar'am, arson in Latrun and Jerusalem, attacks on priests. We understand that this is just a handful, but this handful causes tremendous damage. Not just the damage worth millions of shekels here, but worldwide damage.
"People are calling me from all over the world to see what the situation is. Pilgrims are considering whether it's safe to visit here. It's really terrible. I call on the authorities to deal with this incident and the chain of incidents in every way, both from a security perspective and from a cultural-educational one." Abu Nasser told Ynet that "the Vatican is up to date, and not just them. We are getting phone calls from all over the world. There is concern. There are even pilgrims who are debating not coming to Israel."
Netanyahu spoke on Thursday with Shin Bet chief Yoram Cohen and instructed him to speed up the investigation into the fire. "Freedom of worship in Israel is one of our cornerstones and is enshrined in law," he said.
Police said they initially arrested 16 youths, all religious Jewish seminary students from West Bank settlements, but released them shortly after. Their lawyer, Itamar Ben Gvir, told Army Radio the police had no evidence against the youths and that they were under suspicion simply for looking like young settlers.
17 june 2015
New footage of incident doesn't show Palestinian trying to take soldier's weapon as they claimed; IDF has yet to respond to new video.
Just three days after three IDF soldiers were sentenced for the allegedly unnecessary beating of a Palestinian being arrested during clashes near Ramallah, a full video of the incident was released by Palestinian sources Wednesday, showing no definitive proof that the Palestinian civilian attempted to take one of the soldier's weapons as the IDF claimed after initial investigations.
An original video of the incident, which erupted on social media on Saturday, showed the Palestinian being thrown to the ground and hit in the face by one of the soldiers, but it did not reveal what led to the heavy-handed arrest, leaving room for speculation that the soldiers were justified at least in making the arrest.
The clip released on Wednesday however, documents in full, the curses exchanged between the soldiers and the Palestinian as well as one moment in which the civilian brushes up against a soldier, but does not seem to make an aggressive grab for his weapon. In addition to the questionable arrest tactics seen in the original clip, the full video shows one soldier forcing the Palestinian to the ground by hitting him over the back of the head with a rifle.
The full video reached the IDF on Wednesday afternoon, but no response or statement has yet to be released. Two of the soldiers who were documented in the film received a suspended sentence of 28 days in army prison on Sunday, while another soldier who was seen cursing was sentenced to 30 days confinement to the base. The company commander was also reprimanded.
Just three days after three IDF soldiers were sentenced for the allegedly unnecessary beating of a Palestinian being arrested during clashes near Ramallah, a full video of the incident was released by Palestinian sources Wednesday, showing no definitive proof that the Palestinian civilian attempted to take one of the soldier's weapons as the IDF claimed after initial investigations.
An original video of the incident, which erupted on social media on Saturday, showed the Palestinian being thrown to the ground and hit in the face by one of the soldiers, but it did not reveal what led to the heavy-handed arrest, leaving room for speculation that the soldiers were justified at least in making the arrest.
The clip released on Wednesday however, documents in full, the curses exchanged between the soldiers and the Palestinian as well as one moment in which the civilian brushes up against a soldier, but does not seem to make an aggressive grab for his weapon. In addition to the questionable arrest tactics seen in the original clip, the full video shows one soldier forcing the Palestinian to the ground by hitting him over the back of the head with a rifle.
The full video reached the IDF on Wednesday afternoon, but no response or statement has yet to be released. Two of the soldiers who were documented in the film received a suspended sentence of 28 days in army prison on Sunday, while another soldier who was seen cursing was sentenced to 30 days confinement to the base. The company commander was also reprimanded.
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Israeli military authorities have promoted on Tuesday a soldier who attacked and severely beat Palestinian children in al-Khalil.
A local human rights group affirmed that the Israeli soldier David Nahlawi was promoted after attacking a number of Palestinian children in Shuhada Street in the city of al-Khalil. Such racist acts would certainly encourage settlers' attacks and violations against Palestinians, the group said. In April 2014, a number of Palestinian children were subjected to a brutal attack and severe beating with rifle butts while on their way to their homes in al-Khalil. |
Israeli soldiers savagely attacked at that time journalists who were trying to cover the incident.
15 june 2015
Channel 10 report claims the deputy Knesset speaker, who managed the bar, acted inappropriately towards employees at the bar; 'There was no way Oren passed by you without touching,' one employee says; Hazan denies accusations.
Likud MK Oren Hazan faced fresh allegations on Monday night when a Channel 10 report claimed the deputy Knesset speaker sexually harassed employees at the Flaysher Hotel bar in Tel Aviv, which he managed in 2011-2012.
Last week, a Channel 2 report alleged that Hazan "arranged" prostitutes for gamblers at a casino he managed in Bulgaria, and a casino patron said Hazan was seen using hard drugs. Hazan denied these allegations, not before being suspended by Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein.
"We are entering a small and crowded space, just me and him, and he has no problem rubbing (against me) and physically grabbing my waist and pressing his groin to my rear, as if by accident," M., one of the young women being interviewed, told Channel 10.
"It happened all the time. There was no way Oren passed by you without touching. We were afraid to be left alone with Oren. Afraid Oren will get drunk." M. claimed Hazan used to dance on the bar, taking off his shirt and pants, while another woman, G., corroborated that claim. According to M., "there was an evening when he was really drunk and every girl at the bar - bartender, waitress, customer - who came to say goodbye to him and give him a kiss on the cheek, he would turn his face to get a kiss on the mouth."
Another woman mentioned the same incident saying, "he wouldn't let you leave a shift if he didn't get a hug." According to G., "Everyone knew there was a disaster walking around and you just had to be careful of that hurricane. I remember when my friend brought me to work there, she told me - 'be careful of Oren'. I remember my friend also told me that if he tried to hit on me - to ignore him. This is the man, and this is how you keep this job."
Hazan told Channel 10 in response: "After you claimed I was a drugs dealer, a pimp and a spy, it was only obvious and predictable that you would come up with this kind of cheap and low accusations. These accusations also have no truth in them."
Likud MK Oren Hazan faced fresh allegations on Monday night when a Channel 10 report claimed the deputy Knesset speaker sexually harassed employees at the Flaysher Hotel bar in Tel Aviv, which he managed in 2011-2012.
Last week, a Channel 2 report alleged that Hazan "arranged" prostitutes for gamblers at a casino he managed in Bulgaria, and a casino patron said Hazan was seen using hard drugs. Hazan denied these allegations, not before being suspended by Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein.
"We are entering a small and crowded space, just me and him, and he has no problem rubbing (against me) and physically grabbing my waist and pressing his groin to my rear, as if by accident," M., one of the young women being interviewed, told Channel 10.
"It happened all the time. There was no way Oren passed by you without touching. We were afraid to be left alone with Oren. Afraid Oren will get drunk." M. claimed Hazan used to dance on the bar, taking off his shirt and pants, while another woman, G., corroborated that claim. According to M., "there was an evening when he was really drunk and every girl at the bar - bartender, waitress, customer - who came to say goodbye to him and give him a kiss on the cheek, he would turn his face to get a kiss on the mouth."
Another woman mentioned the same incident saying, "he wouldn't let you leave a shift if he didn't get a hug." According to G., "Everyone knew there was a disaster walking around and you just had to be careful of that hurricane. I remember when my friend brought me to work there, she told me - 'be careful of Oren'. I remember my friend also told me that if he tried to hit on me - to ignore him. This is the man, and this is how you keep this job."
Hazan told Channel 10 in response: "After you claimed I was a drugs dealer, a pimp and a spy, it was only obvious and predictable that you would come up with this kind of cheap and low accusations. These accusations also have no truth in them."
14 june 2015
Video
Five soldiers court martialed over violent arrest of Palestinian demonstrator; prelimanary investigations reveal Palestinian tried to grab a soldier's weapon.
Two IDF soldiers who were documented beating a Palestinian man received a suspended sentence of 28 days in army prison on Sunday, while another soldier who was seen cursing was sentenced to 30 days confinement to the base. The company commander was reprimanded.
Five soldiers of the Haredi Netzah Yehuda Battalion, which secures the Ramallah area, were filmed forcibly arresting a Palestinian demonstrator in Friday's violent incident at the Jalazun refugee camp.
A preliminary investigation into the incident, which was caught on film by a Palestinian cameraman, suggested that the demonstrator tried to grab a rifle from one of the soldiers.
Questioning of forces on the ground revealed that the Palestinian, who appears at the beginning of the video with a cap on his head teasing the soldiers, attacked one of the soldiers physically and tried to steal his weapon. These actions were both missing from the video released by the Palestinians.
The incident occurred while dozens of Palestinians were throwing stones at the soldiers. One of the stones hit a platoon commander in the eye, leading to his hospitalization.
The battalion commander who was on the scene when the incident took place did not prevent the contentious action towards the Palestinians, and soldiers were heard cursing them and screaming: "Get the cameramen out of here."
Demonstrations take place on regular basis at Jalazun, usually on weekends, near the headquarters of the IDF's West Bank Division. The participants at the demonstrations are mainly children and teenagers who throw stones at soldiers near the settlement of Beit El, but these protests are usually not publicized, despite the fact that Palestinian photographers document them on a regular basis.
IDF forces are instructed to be wary of traps, distance themselves as much as possible from the center of disturbances, respond with riot control measures, and, if deemed necessary, fire at the lower extremities of key instigators.
The guidelines' purpose, apart from preventing demonstrators getting near Beit El, is to prevent Palestinians from succeeding in their effort to delegitimize Israel, which was achieved relatively easily over the weekend, regardless of the outcome of the internal IDF investigation.
At Friday's demonstration, unlike other regular demonstrations at Ni'lin, Bil'in and Nabi Salih, there were no IDF cameramen to document what took place.
The Netzach Yehuda Battalion arrived in the area a few months ago, after having left their permanent area near Jenin, a move made at the request of soldiers in order to prevent fatigue.
The West Bank Division, which oversees the battalion's activity in the sensitive sector, noted that so far there have been no exceptional incidents apart from the aforementioned incident.
Five soldiers court martialed over violent arrest of Palestinian demonstrator; prelimanary investigations reveal Palestinian tried to grab a soldier's weapon.
Two IDF soldiers who were documented beating a Palestinian man received a suspended sentence of 28 days in army prison on Sunday, while another soldier who was seen cursing was sentenced to 30 days confinement to the base. The company commander was reprimanded.
Five soldiers of the Haredi Netzah Yehuda Battalion, which secures the Ramallah area, were filmed forcibly arresting a Palestinian demonstrator in Friday's violent incident at the Jalazun refugee camp.
A preliminary investigation into the incident, which was caught on film by a Palestinian cameraman, suggested that the demonstrator tried to grab a rifle from one of the soldiers.
Questioning of forces on the ground revealed that the Palestinian, who appears at the beginning of the video with a cap on his head teasing the soldiers, attacked one of the soldiers physically and tried to steal his weapon. These actions were both missing from the video released by the Palestinians.
The incident occurred while dozens of Palestinians were throwing stones at the soldiers. One of the stones hit a platoon commander in the eye, leading to his hospitalization.
The battalion commander who was on the scene when the incident took place did not prevent the contentious action towards the Palestinians, and soldiers were heard cursing them and screaming: "Get the cameramen out of here."
Demonstrations take place on regular basis at Jalazun, usually on weekends, near the headquarters of the IDF's West Bank Division. The participants at the demonstrations are mainly children and teenagers who throw stones at soldiers near the settlement of Beit El, but these protests are usually not publicized, despite the fact that Palestinian photographers document them on a regular basis.
IDF forces are instructed to be wary of traps, distance themselves as much as possible from the center of disturbances, respond with riot control measures, and, if deemed necessary, fire at the lower extremities of key instigators.
The guidelines' purpose, apart from preventing demonstrators getting near Beit El, is to prevent Palestinians from succeeding in their effort to delegitimize Israel, which was achieved relatively easily over the weekend, regardless of the outcome of the internal IDF investigation.
At Friday's demonstration, unlike other regular demonstrations at Ni'lin, Bil'in and Nabi Salih, there were no IDF cameramen to document what took place.
The Netzach Yehuda Battalion arrived in the area a few months ago, after having left their permanent area near Jenin, a move made at the request of soldiers in order to prevent fatigue.
The West Bank Division, which oversees the battalion's activity in the sensitive sector, noted that so far there have been no exceptional incidents apart from the aforementioned incident.
11 june 2015
Hazan and Gil Riva
In an interview to Channel 10, the embattled MK denies any wrongdoing, claiming someone is assassinating his character.
At the end of a controversial week in which he was the center of public, Likud MK Oren Hazan is going on the offensive.
Hazan has vehemently denied a Channel 2 report that he committed a number of crimes, decrying the "sick imaginations" of the media. A post on his Facebook page said he was preparing a libel suit.
Hazan serves in four different Knesset committees, including the prestigious Foreign Affairs and Defense and the Finance committees. The Likud party can expel or suspend MKs from committees using an internal procedure, but so far this has only been done to sanction MKs rebelling against the coalition's positions.
According to the Channel 2 report, Hazan managed a casino in Bulgaria, where he allegedly procured prostitutes for his friends and smoked hard drugs. In an interview with channel 10's Gil Reva that will preview Friday, Hazan had this to say: "Someone is using piles of money to do a character assassination on me, period."
Hazan continued: "In Bulgaria, like every country in the world- including Israel- there are girls everywhere. In hotels too. In Bulgaria itself, the girls are in the casino, walking the streets. No one needs me for that. By the way, to my recollection… I don’t, don’t take me by my word, I need to check this, but if I remember correctly its legal there – this whole story. So what do you want from me?"
Speaker Yuli Edelstein has suspended his deputy, Likud MK Oren Hazan, on Tuesday after allegations arose that Hazan "arranged" escorts for gamblers at a casino in Bulgaria and used hard drugs.
In an interview to Channel 10, the embattled MK denies any wrongdoing, claiming someone is assassinating his character.
At the end of a controversial week in which he was the center of public, Likud MK Oren Hazan is going on the offensive.
Hazan has vehemently denied a Channel 2 report that he committed a number of crimes, decrying the "sick imaginations" of the media. A post on his Facebook page said he was preparing a libel suit.
Hazan serves in four different Knesset committees, including the prestigious Foreign Affairs and Defense and the Finance committees. The Likud party can expel or suspend MKs from committees using an internal procedure, but so far this has only been done to sanction MKs rebelling against the coalition's positions.
According to the Channel 2 report, Hazan managed a casino in Bulgaria, where he allegedly procured prostitutes for his friends and smoked hard drugs. In an interview with channel 10's Gil Reva that will preview Friday, Hazan had this to say: "Someone is using piles of money to do a character assassination on me, period."
Hazan continued: "In Bulgaria, like every country in the world- including Israel- there are girls everywhere. In hotels too. In Bulgaria itself, the girls are in the casino, walking the streets. No one needs me for that. By the way, to my recollection… I don’t, don’t take me by my word, I need to check this, but if I remember correctly its legal there – this whole story. So what do you want from me?"
Speaker Yuli Edelstein has suspended his deputy, Likud MK Oren Hazan, on Tuesday after allegations arose that Hazan "arranged" escorts for gamblers at a casino in Bulgaria and used hard drugs.
10 june 2015
Former police superintendent Eran Malka
Jerusalem court expected to deal Malka several years in prison; Bruno Stein revealed as former police offical called in for questioning.
Eran Malka, a former police superintendent, was found guilty of corruption in a Jerusalem court on Wednesday morning in connection with the on-going scandal surrounding a prominent laywer, Ronel Fisher.
Malka is expected to be dealt a sentence of several years in prison, despite his plea bargain in which he has agreed to testify against additional figures in the scandal.
Jerusalem court expected to deal Malka several years in prison; Bruno Stein revealed as former police offical called in for questioning.
Eran Malka, a former police superintendent, was found guilty of corruption in a Jerusalem court on Wednesday morning in connection with the on-going scandal surrounding a prominent laywer, Ronel Fisher.
Malka is expected to be dealt a sentence of several years in prison, despite his plea bargain in which he has agreed to testify against additional figures in the scandal.
Stein alongside Police Commissioner Danino
One such figure is former deputy police commissioner Bruno Stein. The police official's identity was originally kept a secret when he was called in for questioning, but was revealed Wednesday morning.
Stein has been questioned for the last two days under suspicion of taking bribes from Fisher, who's accused of using his police connections to push through acquittals for his clients. Stein was released from questioning early Wednesday morning, and is currently under house arrest for three days.
Malka accused Stein of receiving bribes in the form of plane tickets for lavish vacations abroad.
Fisher and Malka are accused of accepting bribes, giving bribes, and receiving goods obtained through criminal and fraudulent means. Former Tel Aviv chief prosecutor Ruth David is also accused of receiving property through criminal means, and obstruction of justice.
Fisher would allegedly give his new clients access to information related to investigations, and make clear to them that he had connections within the police who could help them. In return, prosecutor Keren Altman argued recently, that the two received sums estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, "which they divided evenly."
Fisher was arrested last year, moments after taking possession of a suitcase filled with $150,000, 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 Police Investigation Department.
"Give me $150,000 and I will solve all your problems," Fisher allegedly told Hassan. When Hassan left the coffee house where the two had met, police swooped in to arrest Fisher.
One such figure is former deputy police commissioner Bruno Stein. The police official's identity was originally kept a secret when he was called in for questioning, but was revealed Wednesday morning.
Stein has been questioned for the last two days under suspicion of taking bribes from Fisher, who's accused of using his police connections to push through acquittals for his clients. Stein was released from questioning early Wednesday morning, and is currently under house arrest for three days.
Malka accused Stein of receiving bribes in the form of plane tickets for lavish vacations abroad.
Fisher and Malka are accused of accepting bribes, giving bribes, and receiving goods obtained through criminal and fraudulent means. Former Tel Aviv chief prosecutor Ruth David is also accused of receiving property through criminal means, and obstruction of justice.
Fisher would allegedly give his new clients access to information related to investigations, and make clear to them that he had connections within the police who could help them. In return, prosecutor Keren Altman argued recently, that the two received sums estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, "which they divided evenly."
Fisher was arrested last year, moments after taking possession of a suitcase filled with $150,000, 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 Police Investigation Department.
"Give me $150,000 and I will solve all your problems," Fisher allegedly told Hassan. When Hassan left the coffee house where the two had met, police swooped in to arrest Fisher.
9 june 2015
MK Oren Hazan of Likud planning libel suit after report claims he was actively involved in criminal activity at a casino in Bulgaria, including an all-night drug binge.
MK Oren Hazan of Likud on Tuesday strongly denied a Channel 2 report that he committed crimes, decrying the "sick imaginations" of the media.
A post on his Facebook page said he was preparing a libel suit.
The MK was on Monday night accused in a Channel 2 report of past criminal activity during a trip to Bulgaria, including "arranging" escorts for gamblers at a casino and using hard drugs.
A casino employee said that Hazan, who serves as deputy chairman of the Knesset, would request "pretty girls, with a big chest".
According to the report, Hazan apparently managed a casino that was not associated with the adjacent hotel. The Bulgarian casino employee said in the report that Hazan paid for the women.
An Israeli tourist was interviewed and said Hazan helped guide him to prostitutes. "He knew the people," he said.
Also interviewed for the report was the manager of the Red Rose club next to the casino, which according to the report served essentially as an escort service.
The club manager said that Hazan – whom she described as "the big boss" – took 500 lev, or about NIS 1,200. "The driver would come here and talk to me," she said. "I would tell him the price and then he would take." She said Hazan would pay up front and then ride off with the women.
The report also showed a casino patron who said he had spent an entire night smoking cannabis and crystal methamphetamine with Hazan, who purchased the drugs.
A tourist interviewed for the report said that two friends would go with Hazan to buy the meth. "I wasn't with them when they made the purchase, but they bought from someone, some dealer they found on the street," he said.
"They did a little with him and then came back with it. We went back to the hotel and smoked a little. We smoked grass and did crystal meth that night."
An Israeli casino employee corroborated this account. "We went to some guy on the street," he said. "We didn't know what crystal meth. Somehow we got to him bringing something, and he brought us that blue."
The employee said he was certain that Hazan also did the drug. "Definitely. One hundred per cent. One hundred percent."
MP Hazan to Sue Channel 2 over Drug Dealing, Pimping Allegations
Israel's deputy parliament speaker, lawmaker Oren Hazan, has said he will sue privately owned Channel 2 over a report alleging his involvement in pimping and drugs.
"I have ordered my lawyer to send this evening a letter of warning ahead of a lawsuit against Channel 2," Hazan, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, said in a posting on his Facebook page late Monday.
"Let them present themselves in court and prove in front of a judge these lies," he said, according to Ma'an.
Channel 2 ran an investigative report on Monday alleging that Hazan, who used to run a casino in Bulgaria, had arranged to provide casino-goers with prostitutes and had used hard drugs during that time.
MK Oren Hazan of Likud on Tuesday strongly denied a Channel 2 report that he committed crimes, decrying the "sick imaginations" of the media.
A post on his Facebook page said he was preparing a libel suit.
The MK was on Monday night accused in a Channel 2 report of past criminal activity during a trip to Bulgaria, including "arranging" escorts for gamblers at a casino and using hard drugs.
A casino employee said that Hazan, who serves as deputy chairman of the Knesset, would request "pretty girls, with a big chest".
According to the report, Hazan apparently managed a casino that was not associated with the adjacent hotel. The Bulgarian casino employee said in the report that Hazan paid for the women.
An Israeli tourist was interviewed and said Hazan helped guide him to prostitutes. "He knew the people," he said.
Also interviewed for the report was the manager of the Red Rose club next to the casino, which according to the report served essentially as an escort service.
The club manager said that Hazan – whom she described as "the big boss" – took 500 lev, or about NIS 1,200. "The driver would come here and talk to me," she said. "I would tell him the price and then he would take." She said Hazan would pay up front and then ride off with the women.
The report also showed a casino patron who said he had spent an entire night smoking cannabis and crystal methamphetamine with Hazan, who purchased the drugs.
A tourist interviewed for the report said that two friends would go with Hazan to buy the meth. "I wasn't with them when they made the purchase, but they bought from someone, some dealer they found on the street," he said.
"They did a little with him and then came back with it. We went back to the hotel and smoked a little. We smoked grass and did crystal meth that night."
An Israeli casino employee corroborated this account. "We went to some guy on the street," he said. "We didn't know what crystal meth. Somehow we got to him bringing something, and he brought us that blue."
The employee said he was certain that Hazan also did the drug. "Definitely. One hundred per cent. One hundred percent."
MP Hazan to Sue Channel 2 over Drug Dealing, Pimping Allegations
Israel's deputy parliament speaker, lawmaker Oren Hazan, has said he will sue privately owned Channel 2 over a report alleging his involvement in pimping and drugs.
"I have ordered my lawyer to send this evening a letter of warning ahead of a lawsuit against Channel 2," Hazan, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, said in a posting on his Facebook page late Monday.
"Let them present themselves in court and prove in front of a judge these lies," he said, according to Ma'an.
Channel 2 ran an investigative report on Monday alleging that Hazan, who used to run a casino in Bulgaria, had arranged to provide casino-goers with prostitutes and had used hard drugs during that time.
Former very high-ranking police officer accused in major corruption probe released on house arrest; said to have received free vacations and a promise to head a public company.
The former top police officer questioned about alleged corruption by attorney Ronel Fisher and former police superintendent Eran Malka was on late Monday night released for three days of house arrest, following a lengthy interrogation.
Malka previously accused the police officer of taking a bribe from Fisher in return for information on police investigations pertaining to its clients.
New allegations claim that the officer also received free vacations abroad and a promise to be appointed director at a public company.
According to statements by Malka, former lawyer Ruth David, who until now was accused of facilitating bribes and obstruction of justice, was a dominant figure in the Alon Hassan affair. According to Malka, David pushed Fisher to go through with a deal with Hassan, the chairman of the Ashdod port workers union.
Hassan was responsible for Fisher's arrest in a sting operation led by the Police Investigation Department.
Malka himself is suspected of providing Fisher with information on investigations involving his clients in return for money. The Police Internal Investigations Department is expected to seek a prison sentence of between seven to ten years for Malka. The police officer accused by Malka is suspected of receiving illegal perks from Fisher, including funding of flights and vacations abroad, sometimes with Fisher and another senior law enforcement official.
Fisher is also suspected of having suggested appointing the officer as director of B. Yair, a public construction owned by Yair Biton, a client of Fisher's, who was also indicted last month.
The alleged acts are said to have occurred when the officer held the rank of deputy commissioner. Fisher allegedly boasted about his ties to the officer repeatedly when speaking to clients or potential clients.
Besides details about the police officer, Malka also provided information about Ruth David's supposed involvement.
According to his statements, during a meeting that took place at Fisher's office in the presence of Malka, Fisher, and David regarding the Alon Hassan case, Fisher raised a concern that Hassan might be uncooperative.
But Malka says that David, who was once district attorney, insisted, saying it was "good money". Hassan indeed eventually turned to the police.
Malka signed a state witness agreement on Thursday. The information provided by Malka bolsters the case against David and Yair Biton.
The former top police officer questioned about alleged corruption by attorney Ronel Fisher and former police superintendent Eran Malka was on late Monday night released for three days of house arrest, following a lengthy interrogation.
Malka previously accused the police officer of taking a bribe from Fisher in return for information on police investigations pertaining to its clients.
New allegations claim that the officer also received free vacations abroad and a promise to be appointed director at a public company.
According to statements by Malka, former lawyer Ruth David, who until now was accused of facilitating bribes and obstruction of justice, was a dominant figure in the Alon Hassan affair. According to Malka, David pushed Fisher to go through with a deal with Hassan, the chairman of the Ashdod port workers union.
Hassan was responsible for Fisher's arrest in a sting operation led by the Police Investigation Department.
Malka himself is suspected of providing Fisher with information on investigations involving his clients in return for money. The Police Internal Investigations Department is expected to seek a prison sentence of between seven to ten years for Malka. The police officer accused by Malka is suspected of receiving illegal perks from Fisher, including funding of flights and vacations abroad, sometimes with Fisher and another senior law enforcement official.
Fisher is also suspected of having suggested appointing the officer as director of B. Yair, a public construction owned by Yair Biton, a client of Fisher's, who was also indicted last month.
The alleged acts are said to have occurred when the officer held the rank of deputy commissioner. Fisher allegedly boasted about his ties to the officer repeatedly when speaking to clients or potential clients.
Besides details about the police officer, Malka also provided information about Ruth David's supposed involvement.
According to his statements, during a meeting that took place at Fisher's office in the presence of Malka, Fisher, and David regarding the Alon Hassan case, Fisher raised a concern that Hassan might be uncooperative.
But Malka says that David, who was once district attorney, insisted, saying it was "good money". Hassan indeed eventually turned to the police.
Malka signed a state witness agreement on Thursday. The information provided by Malka bolsters the case against David and Yair Biton.
8 june 2015
Unnamed officer brought in by Police Investigations Department, as part of probe into alleged bribery and fraud by former superindendant and criminal lawyer.
A former very high-ranking officer in the Israel Police was called in for questioning Monday at the Police Investigations Department in Jerusalem as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption by attorney Ronel Fisher and former police superintendent Eran Malka.
The former officer cannot be identified due to a gag order; his name has cropped up in the past in other affairs, but he has never been indicted.
The PID sought the gag order on the investigation last week, in the wake of dramatic developments and a subsequent wave of rumors about the involvement of senior officials.
Malka has accused the police officer of taking a bribe from Fisher in return for information on police investigations pertaining to its clients. Malka himself is suspected of providing Fisher with information on investigations involving his clients in return for money.
Fisher and Malka are accused of accepting bribes, giving bribes, and receiving goods obtained through criminal and fraudulent means. Former Tel Aviv chief prosecutor Ruth David is also accused of receiving property through by criminal means, and obstruction of justice.
During the pertinent timeframe, Malka was an investigating officer with the Lahav 443 fraud squad, and in this capacity had access to extremely sensitive police information. According to the allegations, Malka would update Fisher on sensitive cases, and together they would allegedly coordinate the best way to contact those involved, so that Fisher could take them on as clients.
Fisher would allegedly give his new clients access to information related to the investigation, and make clear to them that he had connections within the police and could help them. In return, prosecutor Keren Altman argued recently, the two received sums estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, "which they divided evenly."
The indictment brought against Fisher, Malka and David last month claims that Malka created an email address in order to transfer the sensitive files and would send Fisher's secretary – who has since turned state's witness – that he had sent them. The secretary would then print out the files and give them to Fisher personally, or place them in a specially designated drawer in the office.
Fisher was arrested last year, moments after taking possession of a suitcase filled with $150,000 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 Police Investigation Department.
"Give me $150,000 and I will solve all your problems," Fisher allegedly told Hassan. When Hassan left the coffee house where he had met Fisher, police swooped in to arrest Fisher.
A former very high-ranking officer in the Israel Police was called in for questioning Monday at the Police Investigations Department in Jerusalem as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption by attorney Ronel Fisher and former police superintendent Eran Malka.
The former officer cannot be identified due to a gag order; his name has cropped up in the past in other affairs, but he has never been indicted.
The PID sought the gag order on the investigation last week, in the wake of dramatic developments and a subsequent wave of rumors about the involvement of senior officials.
Malka has accused the police officer of taking a bribe from Fisher in return for information on police investigations pertaining to its clients. Malka himself is suspected of providing Fisher with information on investigations involving his clients in return for money.
Fisher and Malka are accused of accepting bribes, giving bribes, and receiving goods obtained through criminal and fraudulent means. Former Tel Aviv chief prosecutor Ruth David is also accused of receiving property through by criminal means, and obstruction of justice.
During the pertinent timeframe, Malka was an investigating officer with the Lahav 443 fraud squad, and in this capacity had access to extremely sensitive police information. According to the allegations, Malka would update Fisher on sensitive cases, and together they would allegedly coordinate the best way to contact those involved, so that Fisher could take them on as clients.
Fisher would allegedly give his new clients access to information related to the investigation, and make clear to them that he had connections within the police and could help them. In return, prosecutor Keren Altman argued recently, the two received sums estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, "which they divided evenly."
The indictment brought against Fisher, Malka and David last month claims that Malka created an email address in order to transfer the sensitive files and would send Fisher's secretary – who has since turned state's witness – that he had sent them. The secretary would then print out the files and give them to Fisher personally, or place them in a specially designated drawer in the office.
Fisher was arrested last year, moments after taking possession of a suitcase filled with $150,000 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 Police Investigation Department.
"Give me $150,000 and I will solve all your problems," Fisher allegedly told Hassan. When Hassan left the coffee house where he had met Fisher, police swooped in to arrest Fisher.
Dozens of Jerusalemites protested Monday morning outside the Israeli Central Court in coincidence with the hearing session of Mohammed Abu Khedeir’s murderers.
The protesters raised banners and chanted slogans calling for bringing the murderers to court.
The Israeli court started last Wednesday hearing to the confession of the three main suspects including the extremist settler Yossi Ben-David I, 30, and two other un-identified minors.
Mohammed Abu Khdeir, a 16-year-old Palestinian, was forced into an Israeli setter's car early on the morning of 2 July 2014. His family immediately reported the fact to Israeli Police who located his charred body a few hours later in the Jerusalem Forest. Preliminary results from the autopsy said that he was beaten and burnt while still alive.
The protesters raised banners and chanted slogans calling for bringing the murderers to court.
The Israeli court started last Wednesday hearing to the confession of the three main suspects including the extremist settler Yossi Ben-David I, 30, and two other un-identified minors.
Mohammed Abu Khdeir, a 16-year-old Palestinian, was forced into an Israeli setter's car early on the morning of 2 July 2014. His family immediately reported the fact to Israeli Police who located his charred body a few hours later in the Jerusalem Forest. Preliminary results from the autopsy said that he was beaten and burnt while still alive.
