27 sept 2016
Stas Misezhnikov at his remand hearing in 2014
The State Attorney's office has decided to indict some 16 senior figures in a corruption scandal centered on officials in the Yisrael Beytenu party; a former PA of Stas Misezhnikov has told the police that he was sent to buy his boss cocaine in Israel and abroad; Misezhnikov and his attorney dismiss the draft indictment.
"One of the largest public corruption investigations in Israel," as the State Attorney's office describes it, has reached the stage of submitting indictments.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and State Attorney Shai Nitzan decided on Monday that sufficient evidence existed to try 16 senior figures in a corruption scandal centered on Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu party. Two such figures who are expected to be indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of trust are former Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov and former Deputy Interior Minister Faina Kirschenbaum.
Misezhnikov is also likely to be charged with use of a dangerous drug. This charge rose relatively late in the police investigation from the evidence of one of the state's principal witnesses, a personal assistant to the former minister. According to this person, his boss, both in Israel and abroad, would send him to purchase cocaine for him.
In addition to the fact that purchasing and consuming cocaine is illegal, Misezhnikov's use of the drag apparently had deleterious effects on his job performance in some of his trips. It has been alleged that he was absent from events that were planned for him.
In response to the decision to indict on Monday, Misezhnikov commented, "Read the draft indictment, and think back on what surrounded the affair two years ago, read my lawyer's response and maybe you'll finally start to ask pointed questions to law enforcement authorities." Referencing the Jewish tradition before Rosh Hashanah, he added, "In the spirit of the time, each of us should do his own reckoning."
The former minister's lawyer, Yuval Sasson, was more detailed in his response: "The draft indictment reveals that during Misezhnikov's arrest in December 2014 as part of the (corruption) affair was a pointless arrest that was apparently merely intended to feature in the headlines. The draft is not comprehensive and not one charge touches another in the affair.
"This is a recycling of allegations that have been checked out years ago by the State Comptroller and were handled in a detailed and to-the-point manner. So they added a charge that can only be called a desperate and malicious attempt to smear my client." Sasson accused the state's witness of testifying against his client to save his own skin.
The State Attorney's office has decided to indict some 16 senior figures in a corruption scandal centered on officials in the Yisrael Beytenu party; a former PA of Stas Misezhnikov has told the police that he was sent to buy his boss cocaine in Israel and abroad; Misezhnikov and his attorney dismiss the draft indictment.
"One of the largest public corruption investigations in Israel," as the State Attorney's office describes it, has reached the stage of submitting indictments.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and State Attorney Shai Nitzan decided on Monday that sufficient evidence existed to try 16 senior figures in a corruption scandal centered on Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu party. Two such figures who are expected to be indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of trust are former Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov and former Deputy Interior Minister Faina Kirschenbaum.
Misezhnikov is also likely to be charged with use of a dangerous drug. This charge rose relatively late in the police investigation from the evidence of one of the state's principal witnesses, a personal assistant to the former minister. According to this person, his boss, both in Israel and abroad, would send him to purchase cocaine for him.
In addition to the fact that purchasing and consuming cocaine is illegal, Misezhnikov's use of the drag apparently had deleterious effects on his job performance in some of his trips. It has been alleged that he was absent from events that were planned for him.
In response to the decision to indict on Monday, Misezhnikov commented, "Read the draft indictment, and think back on what surrounded the affair two years ago, read my lawyer's response and maybe you'll finally start to ask pointed questions to law enforcement authorities." Referencing the Jewish tradition before Rosh Hashanah, he added, "In the spirit of the time, each of us should do his own reckoning."
The former minister's lawyer, Yuval Sasson, was more detailed in his response: "The draft indictment reveals that during Misezhnikov's arrest in December 2014 as part of the (corruption) affair was a pointless arrest that was apparently merely intended to feature in the headlines. The draft is not comprehensive and not one charge touches another in the affair.
"This is a recycling of allegations that have been checked out years ago by the State Comptroller and were handled in a detailed and to-the-point manner. So they added a charge that can only be called a desperate and malicious attempt to smear my client." Sasson accused the state's witness of testifying against his client to save his own skin.
22 sept 2016
Jewish youngsters were arrested on suspicion of kicking a Palestinian youth and stealing his cellphone in what is believed to be a nationalistically-motivated attack; all the suspects, one of whom is an IDF soldier, have denied all charges.
Five youths from Jerusalem were arrested over the past week on suspicion of kicking a young Palestinian boy and stealing his cellphone.
After launching an investigation into the incident, the police suspect that the attack was nationalistically motivated. Indeed, investigators believe that the perpetrators had already determined that the victim would be an Arab.
The youth who was attacked, a resident of East Jerusalem, did not require medical treatment. The arrests of two of the suspects were extended while a the third suspect was released on condition by the courts. The remaining two suspects were only arrested on Wednesday and discussions are due to be held as to whether their detention will be extended on Friday.
The incident took place on Saturday in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, after which all those involved fled the scene and were all eventually arrested at a later date after an investigation was launched which included the analysis of CCTV footage. One of those arrested is a soldier in the Kfir brigade.
The suspects denied any connection with the attack with some of them claiming that they were far away from the scene during the attack while others said that there was a skirmish which was stopped after a short while.
The suspects also claim that there was no nationalistic motivation and that none of the evidence thus far compiled against them indicates that racist slogans were shouted during the fight.
During the evaluation of the suspects’ arrests however, the judge said there was reasonable suspicion that the motive was, in fact, nationalistic. The police have said that the investigation is ongoing.
Five youths from Jerusalem were arrested over the past week on suspicion of kicking a young Palestinian boy and stealing his cellphone.
After launching an investigation into the incident, the police suspect that the attack was nationalistically motivated. Indeed, investigators believe that the perpetrators had already determined that the victim would be an Arab.
The youth who was attacked, a resident of East Jerusalem, did not require medical treatment. The arrests of two of the suspects were extended while a the third suspect was released on condition by the courts. The remaining two suspects were only arrested on Wednesday and discussions are due to be held as to whether their detention will be extended on Friday.
The incident took place on Saturday in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo, after which all those involved fled the scene and were all eventually arrested at a later date after an investigation was launched which included the analysis of CCTV footage. One of those arrested is a soldier in the Kfir brigade.
The suspects denied any connection with the attack with some of them claiming that they were far away from the scene during the attack while others said that there was a skirmish which was stopped after a short while.
The suspects also claim that there was no nationalistic motivation and that none of the evidence thus far compiled against them indicates that racist slogans were shouted during the fight.
During the evaluation of the suspects’ arrests however, the judge said there was reasonable suspicion that the motive was, in fact, nationalistic. The police have said that the investigation is ongoing.
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Soldiers from the Nahal Brigade's 50th battalion, which is responsible for the Hebron area, were photographed forcefully detaining a suspect who refused to be searched near a checkpoint; 'The conduct of the forces will checked and the incident will be investigated.'
The IDF is investigating an incident that occurred Monday near a Jewish neighborhood in Hebron, in which soldiers from the Nahal's 50th battalion forcefully detained an unarmed Palestinian man. An initial investigation into the incident revealed that the man, who was eventually detained for questioning, refused to be checked by soldiers who were conducting searches near a checkpoint. In response to photos from the EPA photo agency which appear to show soldiers forcefully subduing the suspect, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said |
in response, "In light of the situation following recent terror attacks in the city, and due to security considerations, it was decided to conduct searches in the area. During one such routine search, a Palestinian man deemed suspicious refused to be searched. Forces detained the suspect. The conduct of the forces will checked and the incident will be investigated."
The 50th battalion, which is responsible for the city of Hebron, was praised in recent days for is conduct following multiple attacks in the city while only sustaining minor injuries.
The battalion has been reinforced in the last few days by the Shimshon battalion of the Kfir Brigade, Sgt. Elor Azaria's unit, which was responsible for the same area before the 50th battalion replaced them.
IDF forces in Judaea and Samaria have been briefed in recent months to handle security incidents in a manner to minimize the number of Palestinians killed. This mode of a more cautious conducted stems from the understanding that many of the individual attackers have gone out in search of revenge for their relatives who were injured or killed while carrying out similar incidents. The caution also accompanies Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot's remarks that there is no need to empty a magazine into a a young girl carrying out a terrorist attack.
Eisenkot's comments came after a police officer shot dead a 14-year-old Palestinian terrorist who, with her 16-year-old cousin, carried out a stabbing attack with scissors at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem in December 2015.
Meanwhile, Hebron has become the most documented operational sector in the country with more than 80 IDF cameras covering Jewish sectors and Palestinian activists recording almost every incident involving the IDF.
The 50th battalion, which is responsible for the city of Hebron, was praised in recent days for is conduct following multiple attacks in the city while only sustaining minor injuries.
The battalion has been reinforced in the last few days by the Shimshon battalion of the Kfir Brigade, Sgt. Elor Azaria's unit, which was responsible for the same area before the 50th battalion replaced them.
IDF forces in Judaea and Samaria have been briefed in recent months to handle security incidents in a manner to minimize the number of Palestinians killed. This mode of a more cautious conducted stems from the understanding that many of the individual attackers have gone out in search of revenge for their relatives who were injured or killed while carrying out similar incidents. The caution also accompanies Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot's remarks that there is no need to empty a magazine into a a young girl carrying out a terrorist attack.
Eisenkot's comments came after a police officer shot dead a 14-year-old Palestinian terrorist who, with her 16-year-old cousin, carried out a stabbing attack with scissors at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem in December 2015.
Meanwhile, Hebron has become the most documented operational sector in the country with more than 80 IDF cameras covering Jewish sectors and Palestinian activists recording almost every incident involving the IDF.
15 sept 2016
After receiving dozens of complaints of child abuse, including whippings, beatings and forced underaged marriage, Guatemalan forces raid 'Lev Tahor' yard; Former cult member: 'They tried to break your independent thought.'
Guatemalan authorities raided a yard belonging to a community of an extreme Haredi faction Tuesday “Lev Tahor” (Pure Heart) in the country’s capital Guatemala City after a number of serious child abuse complaints.
Lev Tahor is an ultra-Orthodox sect comprised of predominantly Israeli Haredi extremists who leave their families behind in Israel as part of a wider boycott of Zionism. The group is widely considered to be a cult for its extreme conduct which adheres to the strict word of Jewish scripture.
The authorities arrested the leaders of the sect and also took dozens of Israeli children and babies in their possession. Since the raid, Israel has established contacts with Guatemala to coordinate the flight of the children back home.
The cult, which is headed by Shlomo Erez Helbrans, who 10 years ago was recognized as a refugee in Canada, consists of 230 members, 150 of whom are children. Until 2013, they resided in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts in the province of Quebec but were forced to move to Ontario.
Two-and-a-half years ago the Canadian authorities thwarted an attempt by the sect to send its adherents to Guatemala after the Canadian courts decreed that some of the children be transferred to foster families due to evidence proving that they were suffering serious abuse.
However, the sect succeeded in transferring a number of the children to Guatemala giving rise to a legal battle over the last few years to expel them back to Canada.
According to social services in Quebec and Ontario, they have evidence of instances of abuse including beatings, child marriage and illegal education.
One former member of the faction ‘A.’ described the prevailing culture of brainwashing by the leader. “People would follow us for him and report back to him. He would then take me and others for discussions which lasted for hours. The aim was to break your independent thought and to prove how big he was,” A. recalled.
According to the Guatemalan authorities, “Lev Tahor” said that members of the cult were under national police surveillance.
Evaluations indicate that Helbrans made a decision to secretly transfer the cult to Guatemala after Canadian authorities began waging a legal battle against it and demanded that children be placed in the care of foster care. According to families in the cult in Israel, Helbrans abused the children with clubs, coat hangers and iron rods and would sometimes lock them in basements. Moreover, social services in Quebec received reports that the children were forced to marry as young as 14.
The raid in the group’s yard came at the request of the Israeli government. According to a statement by the Guatemalan authorities, the evidence compiled showed cases of, among other things, of “marriage between children, physical and emotional abuse against members of the community and against children. This evidence raises concerns about the physical and emotional well being of dozens of Israeli children currently residing in Guatemala under the sponsorship of the community.“
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Attorney’s Office, the Welfare Ministry and the Israel Police have been tracking the group’s development for a number of years and are all in contact with the relevant bodies, both in Canada and Guatemala.
“I hope this will be the end of the nightmare for many people and children,” said A. He added that while he never witnessed any violence during his time in the cult, he heard about serious misdeeds.
“I heard screaming from different houses of the cult members, and eventually I heard members telling about threatening acts such as humiliation, violence and whippings. One mother received orders to hit her child in the presence of others,” the former member recalled.
Guatemalan authorities raided a yard belonging to a community of an extreme Haredi faction Tuesday “Lev Tahor” (Pure Heart) in the country’s capital Guatemala City after a number of serious child abuse complaints.
Lev Tahor is an ultra-Orthodox sect comprised of predominantly Israeli Haredi extremists who leave their families behind in Israel as part of a wider boycott of Zionism. The group is widely considered to be a cult for its extreme conduct which adheres to the strict word of Jewish scripture.
The authorities arrested the leaders of the sect and also took dozens of Israeli children and babies in their possession. Since the raid, Israel has established contacts with Guatemala to coordinate the flight of the children back home.
The cult, which is headed by Shlomo Erez Helbrans, who 10 years ago was recognized as a refugee in Canada, consists of 230 members, 150 of whom are children. Until 2013, they resided in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts in the province of Quebec but were forced to move to Ontario.
Two-and-a-half years ago the Canadian authorities thwarted an attempt by the sect to send its adherents to Guatemala after the Canadian courts decreed that some of the children be transferred to foster families due to evidence proving that they were suffering serious abuse.
However, the sect succeeded in transferring a number of the children to Guatemala giving rise to a legal battle over the last few years to expel them back to Canada.
According to social services in Quebec and Ontario, they have evidence of instances of abuse including beatings, child marriage and illegal education.
One former member of the faction ‘A.’ described the prevailing culture of brainwashing by the leader. “People would follow us for him and report back to him. He would then take me and others for discussions which lasted for hours. The aim was to break your independent thought and to prove how big he was,” A. recalled.
According to the Guatemalan authorities, “Lev Tahor” said that members of the cult were under national police surveillance.
Evaluations indicate that Helbrans made a decision to secretly transfer the cult to Guatemala after Canadian authorities began waging a legal battle against it and demanded that children be placed in the care of foster care. According to families in the cult in Israel, Helbrans abused the children with clubs, coat hangers and iron rods and would sometimes lock them in basements. Moreover, social services in Quebec received reports that the children were forced to marry as young as 14.
The raid in the group’s yard came at the request of the Israeli government. According to a statement by the Guatemalan authorities, the evidence compiled showed cases of, among other things, of “marriage between children, physical and emotional abuse against members of the community and against children. This evidence raises concerns about the physical and emotional well being of dozens of Israeli children currently residing in Guatemala under the sponsorship of the community.“
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Attorney’s Office, the Welfare Ministry and the Israel Police have been tracking the group’s development for a number of years and are all in contact with the relevant bodies, both in Canada and Guatemala.
“I hope this will be the end of the nightmare for many people and children,” said A. He added that while he never witnessed any violence during his time in the cult, he heard about serious misdeeds.
“I heard screaming from different houses of the cult members, and eventually I heard members telling about threatening acts such as humiliation, violence and whippings. One mother received orders to hit her child in the presence of others,” the former member recalled.
12 sept 2016
Tel Aviv District Court declares that while charges against the deceased Benjamin 'Fuad' Ben-Eliezer will be dropped, proceedings will continue against the five others indicted in the bribery case.
Tel Aviv District Court’s Judge Benny Sagi declared a stop to all ongoing criminal proceedings regarding accepting bribes against former minister Benjamin “Fuad” Ben-Eliezer, who passed away two weeks prior, while continuing proceedings in regard to the other five individuals indicted in the case, as per the request of the prosecution.
Commenting on having Ben-Eliezer’s name stricken from the case, a representative for the prosecution said that “We will continue with the case against those who betrayed trust and laundered money.”
Attorney Amit Hadad, a partner in law office of Jacob Weinroth, which represented Ben-Eliezer, responded to the ruling. “The law states that once a defendant is deceased, all criminal proceedings against him are terminated. A new indictment has now been submitted.
I think even the prosecution understands that this indictment lacks strength, and I assume the remaining defense lawyers will eventually lead the case to the acquittal of the other defendants, ending it in a full acquittal. Ben-Eliezer died not guilty, was not guilty and remains not guilty.”
Tel Aviv District Court’s Judge Benny Sagi declared a stop to all ongoing criminal proceedings regarding accepting bribes against former minister Benjamin “Fuad” Ben-Eliezer, who passed away two weeks prior, while continuing proceedings in regard to the other five individuals indicted in the case, as per the request of the prosecution.
Commenting on having Ben-Eliezer’s name stricken from the case, a representative for the prosecution said that “We will continue with the case against those who betrayed trust and laundered money.”
Attorney Amit Hadad, a partner in law office of Jacob Weinroth, which represented Ben-Eliezer, responded to the ruling. “The law states that once a defendant is deceased, all criminal proceedings against him are terminated. A new indictment has now been submitted.
I think even the prosecution understands that this indictment lacks strength, and I assume the remaining defense lawyers will eventually lead the case to the acquittal of the other defendants, ending it in a full acquittal. Ben-Eliezer died not guilty, was not guilty and remains not guilty.”
Tommy Hasson who was attacked for speaking Arabic
Tommy Hasson, a 22 year old Druze man who served in the IDF, was attacked in 2015 by 10 Jewish people because he was speaking Arabic; The Jerusalem District Attorney's Office has closed the case against the attackers for 'lack of evidence.'
The Jerusalem District Attorney's Office has announced that it is closing the case against suspects who allegedly attacked Tommy Hasson, a 22 year old Druze man, due to lack of evidence.
The man was suspected of being attacked on nationalistic grounds after the suspects overheard him speaking in Arabic. He is already recognized by the National Insurance Institute as someone who survived ''enemy hostilities."
The Druze sector is very active in Israeli society, with a strong presence in the military and government.
The aforementioned attack occurred in January 2015. Hasson, who grew up in the Druze city of Daliyat al-Karmel, and who served in the IDF Druze Battalion and at the home of the President of Israel in Jerusalem. He was attacked by 10 men wearing kippot outside of the Jerusalem Central Bus Station.
Hasson was hospitalized in Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem, and the police arrested several suspects.
"The victim sustained a lot of injuries," said the judge who ordered the extended remand of the suspects. "This is a very dangerous offense, all the more so as it was done borne out of nationalistic motivations during those troubling days (the height of the recent wave of terror)."
The case continued slowly, and the physical case file itself was lost. However, after an article written by Ynet on the issue was written in March of 2016, the file was re-created, and Hasson was recognized as someone who was injured in enemy hostilities.
The announcement of the closure of the case surprised Hasson. "I'm really disappointed," he said on Sunday. "They know exactly who attacked me. I'm sure that if the incident happened the other way around – that a Jew was attacked by Arabs – everything would have ended differently."
The Jerusalem Prosecutor's Office responded, saying "the evidence recovered was sent to the Jerusalem District Attorney's Office. After consideration, the decision was made to close the case due to lack of evidence and the inability to fully identify the attackers."
Tommy Hasson, a 22 year old Druze man who served in the IDF, was attacked in 2015 by 10 Jewish people because he was speaking Arabic; The Jerusalem District Attorney's Office has closed the case against the attackers for 'lack of evidence.'
The Jerusalem District Attorney's Office has announced that it is closing the case against suspects who allegedly attacked Tommy Hasson, a 22 year old Druze man, due to lack of evidence.
The man was suspected of being attacked on nationalistic grounds after the suspects overheard him speaking in Arabic. He is already recognized by the National Insurance Institute as someone who survived ''enemy hostilities."
The Druze sector is very active in Israeli society, with a strong presence in the military and government.
The aforementioned attack occurred in January 2015. Hasson, who grew up in the Druze city of Daliyat al-Karmel, and who served in the IDF Druze Battalion and at the home of the President of Israel in Jerusalem. He was attacked by 10 men wearing kippot outside of the Jerusalem Central Bus Station.
Hasson was hospitalized in Hadassah Ein Kerem hospital in Jerusalem, and the police arrested several suspects.
"The victim sustained a lot of injuries," said the judge who ordered the extended remand of the suspects. "This is a very dangerous offense, all the more so as it was done borne out of nationalistic motivations during those troubling days (the height of the recent wave of terror)."
The case continued slowly, and the physical case file itself was lost. However, after an article written by Ynet on the issue was written in March of 2016, the file was re-created, and Hasson was recognized as someone who was injured in enemy hostilities.
The announcement of the closure of the case surprised Hasson. "I'm really disappointed," he said on Sunday. "They know exactly who attacked me. I'm sure that if the incident happened the other way around – that a Jew was attacked by Arabs – everything would have ended differently."
The Jerusalem Prosecutor's Office responded, saying "the evidence recovered was sent to the Jerusalem District Attorney's Office. After consideration, the decision was made to close the case due to lack of evidence and the inability to fully identify the attackers."
