7 june 2018
Local Cybercrime Unit raids offices in Angeles after citizens from New Zealand, Russia, Australia and South Africa are duped in online racket into investing huge sums of money for no gains; 'I had to sell my house for my children.'
The Cybercrime Unit of the Philippine Police has arrested eight Israelis who are suspected to have been behind a huge Bitcoin currency and online investments fraud scheme worth millions of dollars.
The Israelis were arrested on Wednesday in raids carried out by the local police at three offices in the city of Angeles.
In addition, 480 Filipinos citizens were arrested who worked in the call center used for gathering customers and convincing them to invest money online. The Israeli Foreign Ministry is looking into the matter.
According to the suspicions, the Israelis ran and supervised the scheme which defrauded citizens of New Zealand, Russia, Australia and South Africa who were asked to invest in foreign trade, Bitcoin and shares.
Two Australian pensioners who fell prey to the online scam flew specially to the Philippines in order to collect the money they had been cheated out of.
“Our whole lives went. Our families went. Our money went. My family is suffering because all the money went,” sid one of the victims, who had been intrigued and excited by the advert on Bitcoin which she had seen online.
She also added that she had been intrigued and excited by the advert on Bitcoin which she had seen online.
“I clicked on the banner and the next thing I know was that I had gotten a phone call and I was asked to give just $250, and I said to myself, ok, you’ll make a lot of money,” she explained.
According to the pensioner, she was asked to provide access to her bank account in order to make more investments. “They took the maximum from all of my cards. They took everything. I have nothing. I can’t even pay the bills.”
‘I sold my home that was for my children’
Another Singapore-Australian victim of the online extortion racket said that she lost half a million Australian dollars.
“I sold my house. It was for my children. My money went. I was left with $100. I couldn’t recover from it and recoup the money they took from me,” she said.
The complainants say that the Israelis who headed the scheme were in their late 20s and that they employed Filipino citizens to carry out their fraudulent activities. “They are young men, and they are full of money after cheating us and now they can enjoy their lives,” one of the victims from Australia said.
The authority that exposed the online deception operation says that their clients would first be given money in order to create the impression that they have made a successful investment. Feeling confident of the potential financial gains involved in further investments, the duped victims would then pump more and more money into investments that would inevitably end in a loss.
One of the workers in the scam said that he and his friend were aware of how the system worked but carried out instructions given by the Israeli bosses for fear of losing their jobs.
One Filipino police officer said that one of the companies had been operating since November 2017 and that it employed 527 people and received a license to work as a business that provides technical, web design and search engine optimization services to customers.
The investigation and raids were carried out, he added, following complaints that were filed by Australian and South African citizens, who said that the company had been taking hundreds of dollars from their bank accounts under the guise of investing in online stock.
One victim, who said that after the initial investment was unable to withdraw her money from the company or establish contact with a representative, was cheated out of 100,000 Australian dollars.
The Cybercrime Unit of the Philippine Police has arrested eight Israelis who are suspected to have been behind a huge Bitcoin currency and online investments fraud scheme worth millions of dollars.
The Israelis were arrested on Wednesday in raids carried out by the local police at three offices in the city of Angeles.
In addition, 480 Filipinos citizens were arrested who worked in the call center used for gathering customers and convincing them to invest money online. The Israeli Foreign Ministry is looking into the matter.
According to the suspicions, the Israelis ran and supervised the scheme which defrauded citizens of New Zealand, Russia, Australia and South Africa who were asked to invest in foreign trade, Bitcoin and shares.
Two Australian pensioners who fell prey to the online scam flew specially to the Philippines in order to collect the money they had been cheated out of.
“Our whole lives went. Our families went. Our money went. My family is suffering because all the money went,” sid one of the victims, who had been intrigued and excited by the advert on Bitcoin which she had seen online.
She also added that she had been intrigued and excited by the advert on Bitcoin which she had seen online.
“I clicked on the banner and the next thing I know was that I had gotten a phone call and I was asked to give just $250, and I said to myself, ok, you’ll make a lot of money,” she explained.
According to the pensioner, she was asked to provide access to her bank account in order to make more investments. “They took the maximum from all of my cards. They took everything. I have nothing. I can’t even pay the bills.”
‘I sold my home that was for my children’
Another Singapore-Australian victim of the online extortion racket said that she lost half a million Australian dollars.
“I sold my house. It was for my children. My money went. I was left with $100. I couldn’t recover from it and recoup the money they took from me,” she said.
The complainants say that the Israelis who headed the scheme were in their late 20s and that they employed Filipino citizens to carry out their fraudulent activities. “They are young men, and they are full of money after cheating us and now they can enjoy their lives,” one of the victims from Australia said.
The authority that exposed the online deception operation says that their clients would first be given money in order to create the impression that they have made a successful investment. Feeling confident of the potential financial gains involved in further investments, the duped victims would then pump more and more money into investments that would inevitably end in a loss.
One of the workers in the scam said that he and his friend were aware of how the system worked but carried out instructions given by the Israeli bosses for fear of losing their jobs.
One Filipino police officer said that one of the companies had been operating since November 2017 and that it employed 527 people and received a license to work as a business that provides technical, web design and search engine optimization services to customers.
The investigation and raids were carried out, he added, following complaints that were filed by Australian and South African citizens, who said that the company had been taking hundreds of dollars from their bank accounts under the guise of investing in online stock.
One victim, who said that after the initial investment was unable to withdraw her money from the company or establish contact with a representative, was cheated out of 100,000 Australian dollars.
4 june 2018
Several other public servants taken in for questioning in fresh wave of arrested on suspicion of bribery, fraud and breach of trust following extensive covert activities by investigators that culminated in raids of the mayor's offices in the Sharon region and of the suspects’ homes; police believe they used their positions to illegally promote private interests.
Police raided municipality offices in the Sharon region on Monday morning and arrested a city mayor and senior public officials on suspicion of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
After a period in which police carried out covert activities to uncover illicit conduct, the National Fraud Investigation Unit launched the investigation at the Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit in Lod in light of evidence that aroused suspicion of a string of corruption offences.
Questioning began at the Lahav offices on Monday morning of the mayor, who has yet to be identified.
The mayor’s chief of staff was also arrested, along with his driver and a contractor who in the past served as public officials.
During the morning hours of Monday, other suspects were questioned under caution, while another two suspects were remanded on suspicion of bribery, fraud, breach of trust, tax offenses and other misdemeanors.
According to the suspicions, the mayor and the senior officials arrested used their positions to promote interests and benefits of others in violation of the law. In addition to searching their offices, police also raided their homes.
The list of suspects included senior public officials working in local authorities. The investigation is being conducted by the police the and the Tax Authority in a fresh bid to flush out the phenomenon of corruption among public officials in Israel.
After being questioned by police, all the necessary evidentiary materials will be brought before the Rishon LeZion Magistrates’ Court to discuss their case.
Police raided municipality offices in the Sharon region on Monday morning and arrested a city mayor and senior public officials on suspicion of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
After a period in which police carried out covert activities to uncover illicit conduct, the National Fraud Investigation Unit launched the investigation at the Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit in Lod in light of evidence that aroused suspicion of a string of corruption offences.
Questioning began at the Lahav offices on Monday morning of the mayor, who has yet to be identified.
The mayor’s chief of staff was also arrested, along with his driver and a contractor who in the past served as public officials.
During the morning hours of Monday, other suspects were questioned under caution, while another two suspects were remanded on suspicion of bribery, fraud, breach of trust, tax offenses and other misdemeanors.
According to the suspicions, the mayor and the senior officials arrested used their positions to promote interests and benefits of others in violation of the law. In addition to searching their offices, police also raided their homes.
The list of suspects included senior public officials working in local authorities. The investigation is being conducted by the police the and the Tax Authority in a fresh bid to flush out the phenomenon of corruption among public officials in Israel.
After being questioned by police, all the necessary evidentiary materials will be brought before the Rishon LeZion Magistrates’ Court to discuss their case.
1 june 2018
Moshe Harel was accused by Kosovo of illegal medical procedures, organized crime in 2011, with Interpol issuing warrant for his arrest; located in Cyprus, Kosovo police seeks his extradition to stand trial; Harel allegedly part of organ trafficking ring arranging kidney transplants for rich Israelis.
An Israeli citizen accused of involvement in a human organ trafficking scandal in Kosovo a decade ago has been arrested in Cyprus and the authorities in Kosovar capital of Pristina have requested his extradition to face trial, police said on Friday.
A European Union prosecutor announced in 2011 that the Israeli, Moshe Harel, and a Turkish doctor named Yusuf Sonmez were accused of performing illegal medical procedures and involvement in organized crime in the southeastern European country. The pair is also wanted Interpol and international warrant for their arrest has been issued.
Harel was arrested and questioned in 2008, but refused authorization to leave Kosovo and return to Israel, pending the investigation's requirements. Kosovo authorities also stated Sonmez's current whereabouts were unknown.
Harel and Sonmez's network was exposed in 2008, when Kosovar police raided the clinic in which the operations were performed following suspicions that a Turkish man had sold his kidney to an Israeli citizen. He was found after the operation in the Pristina airport when he attempted to board a plane to Turkey, and was hospitalized.
Police accuse Harel of seeking out people in need of kidney transplants and of luring donors to Kosovo from Turkey and the ex-Soviet Union with the promise of up to 12,000 euros ($14,500) in payment.
Recipients, mainly Israelis but also some in Canada and Poland, paid between 80,000 and 100,000 euros for the organs. Some donors never received any money.
"Based on an international arrest warrant the suspect M.H. was arrested a few days ago in Cyprus. He has been a wanted person since 2010," police spokesman Baki Kelani told Reuters.
Russia has also issued an international arrest warrant for Harel, who was arrested in Israel in 2012 in connection with a parallel investigation, but was not extradited to Kosovo, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel.
The director of the clinic where the operations were performed, urologist Lutfi Dervishi, was sentenced to eight years in jail for organized crime and human trafficking and his son Arban for seven years in 2013, though both men went into hiding and have not served their sentences.
In 2016 a Kosovo court ordered a retrial of doctors and officials convicted of involvement in the case and that trial is still ongoing. They have all denied any wrongdoing.
Police said Lutfi Dervishi had been recaptured last year and was among those now being retried. His son and Turkish doctor Sonmez are still at large.
An Israeli citizen accused of involvement in a human organ trafficking scandal in Kosovo a decade ago has been arrested in Cyprus and the authorities in Kosovar capital of Pristina have requested his extradition to face trial, police said on Friday.
A European Union prosecutor announced in 2011 that the Israeli, Moshe Harel, and a Turkish doctor named Yusuf Sonmez were accused of performing illegal medical procedures and involvement in organized crime in the southeastern European country. The pair is also wanted Interpol and international warrant for their arrest has been issued.
Harel was arrested and questioned in 2008, but refused authorization to leave Kosovo and return to Israel, pending the investigation's requirements. Kosovo authorities also stated Sonmez's current whereabouts were unknown.
Harel and Sonmez's network was exposed in 2008, when Kosovar police raided the clinic in which the operations were performed following suspicions that a Turkish man had sold his kidney to an Israeli citizen. He was found after the operation in the Pristina airport when he attempted to board a plane to Turkey, and was hospitalized.
Police accuse Harel of seeking out people in need of kidney transplants and of luring donors to Kosovo from Turkey and the ex-Soviet Union with the promise of up to 12,000 euros ($14,500) in payment.
Recipients, mainly Israelis but also some in Canada and Poland, paid between 80,000 and 100,000 euros for the organs. Some donors never received any money.
"Based on an international arrest warrant the suspect M.H. was arrested a few days ago in Cyprus. He has been a wanted person since 2010," police spokesman Baki Kelani told Reuters.
Russia has also issued an international arrest warrant for Harel, who was arrested in Israel in 2012 in connection with a parallel investigation, but was not extradited to Kosovo, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel.
The director of the clinic where the operations were performed, urologist Lutfi Dervishi, was sentenced to eight years in jail for organized crime and human trafficking and his son Arban for seven years in 2013, though both men went into hiding and have not served their sentences.
In 2016 a Kosovo court ordered a retrial of doctors and officials convicted of involvement in the case and that trial is still ongoing. They have all denied any wrongdoing.
Police said Lutfi Dervishi had been recaptured last year and was among those now being retried. His son and Turkish doctor Sonmez are still at large.
21 may 2018
Tel Aviv District Court sentences Shaul Shamai, who admitted to statutory rape of 6 girls in plea bargain; 4 of the girls were students at his school, while he tutored remaining 2; judge also criticizes fact that Shamai was previously charged in another sexual assault case but was allowed to remain a teacher.
A teacher convicted of statutory rape of six young girls, some of whom went to the school in which he taught, was sentenced on Monday to seven years in prison.
The teacher, 49-year-old Rishon LeZion resident Shaul Shamai, was convicted as part of a plea bargain. Four of his victims, aged 7-8, were pupils at the school while the remaining two received private lessons from him.
In addition to the seven year sentence, Tel Aviv District Court Judge Zvi Gurfinkel gave Shamai an 18 month suspended sentence and ordered him to pay each girl NIS 25,000 in compensation.
While the plea agreement was approved back in January, the parties could not reach an agreement on the sentencing, with the State Attorney's Office pushing for a sentence of 10 to 18 years.
Judge Gurfinkel said at the sentencing that, "The severity of the defendant's actions could not be overstated. He abused his position as teacher and educator and the trust his students placed in him to systematically carry out his deeds."
Gurfinkel also criticized the fact that a report of a previous conviction in a similar case was not made known to the relevant authorities, allowing him to continue to serve as a teacher. "The offenses in this case were committed while the defendant was charged with sexual assault in another instance, all while serving as a teacher," he said.
A teacher convicted of statutory rape of six young girls, some of whom went to the school in which he taught, was sentenced on Monday to seven years in prison.
The teacher, 49-year-old Rishon LeZion resident Shaul Shamai, was convicted as part of a plea bargain. Four of his victims, aged 7-8, were pupils at the school while the remaining two received private lessons from him.
In addition to the seven year sentence, Tel Aviv District Court Judge Zvi Gurfinkel gave Shamai an 18 month suspended sentence and ordered him to pay each girl NIS 25,000 in compensation.
While the plea agreement was approved back in January, the parties could not reach an agreement on the sentencing, with the State Attorney's Office pushing for a sentence of 10 to 18 years.
Judge Gurfinkel said at the sentencing that, "The severity of the defendant's actions could not be overstated. He abused his position as teacher and educator and the trust his students placed in him to systematically carry out his deeds."
Gurfinkel also criticized the fact that a report of a previous conviction in a similar case was not made known to the relevant authorities, allowing him to continue to serve as a teacher. "The offenses in this case were committed while the defendant was charged with sexual assault in another instance, all while serving as a teacher," he said.
Judge Zvi Gurfinkel criticized the fact that Shamai was allowed to keep working as a teacher despite a prior conviction in sexual offenses
The attorney representing the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office commented on the sentence, saying, "The court has accepted our position and levied the defendant with a harsh sentence in accordance with the grave circumstances of the case."
The prolonged prison sentence, attorney Kineret Kahan Mor added, will serve as a deterrent for anyone entrusted with the safety and well-being of children, who then takes advantage of their naiveté and helplessness to harm them.
Shamai's attorney Tali Gottlieb provided comment of her own, saying, "The court accepted all of our claims, as to the fact that while we have an obligation to send a perpetrator to prison we must also, as a society, take into account that he confessed, showed regret and asked for treatment."
"The mere fact that my client confessed is rare and unusual in cases such as these, and speaks for itself in reflecting his true, honest regret without first securing a promise for any (reduced) punishment," she added.
The victims' lawyers said on behalf of the families: "As the District Court's verdict shows, this is a horrifying case, which undoubtedly could have been prevented—as could the immense harm caused to the helpless minors, who were exposed to the pedophile teach—with better conduct. Now, with the completion of the criminal proceedings, a damages claim will soon be filed against all of the relevant elements, and we can only hope the necessary lessons will be learned to avoid terrible cases such as this from repeating."
Shamai worked as a substitute teacher at an elementary school in northern Tel Aviv from October 2016 until June 2017. He was arrested after one of the students told her mother he had hurt her, and the mother complained to the principal.
The teacher was charged in June 2017 with multiple counts of indecent acts against four second grade students and a 13-year-old girl he was privately tutoring. He was also charged at the Magistrate's Court in the city with working at an institution despite being convicted of a sexual offense.
While 10 complaints have been made by second grade students against Shamai, only five complaints were eventually included in the indictment.
According to the indictment, during his time at the Tel Aviv elementary school, Shamai sexually assaulted girls aged 7-8 in several separate incidents. He allegedly carried out the acts during class and in front of the other students in the classroom.
Shamai sat the students down on his lap, put his hands under their clothes and touched their private parts, at times despite their verbal and physical objections.
The sentencing also included another case in which Shamai was convicted of indecent acts against another girl he was giving private lessons to. In that instance, the suspect had fondled the girl and attempted to kiss her on several occasions.
Shamai also admitted to not informing the school principal he had been previously convicted of a sexual offense.
The attorney representing the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office commented on the sentence, saying, "The court has accepted our position and levied the defendant with a harsh sentence in accordance with the grave circumstances of the case."
The prolonged prison sentence, attorney Kineret Kahan Mor added, will serve as a deterrent for anyone entrusted with the safety and well-being of children, who then takes advantage of their naiveté and helplessness to harm them.
Shamai's attorney Tali Gottlieb provided comment of her own, saying, "The court accepted all of our claims, as to the fact that while we have an obligation to send a perpetrator to prison we must also, as a society, take into account that he confessed, showed regret and asked for treatment."
"The mere fact that my client confessed is rare and unusual in cases such as these, and speaks for itself in reflecting his true, honest regret without first securing a promise for any (reduced) punishment," she added.
The victims' lawyers said on behalf of the families: "As the District Court's verdict shows, this is a horrifying case, which undoubtedly could have been prevented—as could the immense harm caused to the helpless minors, who were exposed to the pedophile teach—with better conduct. Now, with the completion of the criminal proceedings, a damages claim will soon be filed against all of the relevant elements, and we can only hope the necessary lessons will be learned to avoid terrible cases such as this from repeating."
Shamai worked as a substitute teacher at an elementary school in northern Tel Aviv from October 2016 until June 2017. He was arrested after one of the students told her mother he had hurt her, and the mother complained to the principal.
The teacher was charged in June 2017 with multiple counts of indecent acts against four second grade students and a 13-year-old girl he was privately tutoring. He was also charged at the Magistrate's Court in the city with working at an institution despite being convicted of a sexual offense.
While 10 complaints have been made by second grade students against Shamai, only five complaints were eventually included in the indictment.
According to the indictment, during his time at the Tel Aviv elementary school, Shamai sexually assaulted girls aged 7-8 in several separate incidents. He allegedly carried out the acts during class and in front of the other students in the classroom.
Shamai sat the students down on his lap, put his hands under their clothes and touched their private parts, at times despite their verbal and physical objections.
The sentencing also included another case in which Shamai was convicted of indecent acts against another girl he was giving private lessons to. In that instance, the suspect had fondled the girl and attempted to kiss her on several occasions.
Shamai also admitted to not informing the school principal he had been previously convicted of a sexual offense.
11 may 2018
Israeli Tanks Along The Gaza Border
Israeli soldiers shot, Friday, three Palestinians, including a child, just before the weekly Great Return March started in the Gaza Strip.
Medical sources said the soldiers shot a child with two live rounds in his legs, east of Jabalia, in northern Gaza Strip.
They added that the soldiers also shot a young man with live fire, east of Gaza city.
Furthermore, an Israeli army sharpshooter shot a young man, just as he flew balloons carrying the colors of the Palestinian flag, east of the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza city, wounding him in the leg, before he was rushed to the Shifa Medical Center.
Later on, several young men flew burning kites into a military base across the border fence, east of Jabalia, in northern Gaza, causing fires.
In addition, Quds News Network has reported that the soldiers also arrested an Israeli colonialist settler near the border fence after he accidentally caused fire in a field on the Israeli side, while trying to launch a burning kite into Palestinian lands. Video
Israeli soldiers shot, Friday, three Palestinians, including a child, just before the weekly Great Return March started in the Gaza Strip.
Medical sources said the soldiers shot a child with two live rounds in his legs, east of Jabalia, in northern Gaza Strip.
They added that the soldiers also shot a young man with live fire, east of Gaza city.
Furthermore, an Israeli army sharpshooter shot a young man, just as he flew balloons carrying the colors of the Palestinian flag, east of the Zeitoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza city, wounding him in the leg, before he was rushed to the Shifa Medical Center.
Later on, several young men flew burning kites into a military base across the border fence, east of Jabalia, in northern Gaza, causing fires.
In addition, Quds News Network has reported that the soldiers also arrested an Israeli colonialist settler near the border fence after he accidentally caused fire in a field on the Israeli side, while trying to launch a burning kite into Palestinian lands. Video
29 mar 2018
Convicted of racially motivated 'price tag' crimes against Palestinians after confessing as part of a plea deal, three Jewish youths get jail time for hate crimes, membership in terror cell; three other accomplices still on trial.
Three brothers, settlers and members of a six-person Jewish terror cell, were sentenced Thursday to prison terms ranging from 32 months to five years for their part in hate crimes committed against Palestinians in 2014 and 2015.
They were convicted of a series of "price tag" felonies, which took place in the Gush Talmonim area near Ramallah—including torching vehicles, throwing Molotov cocktails and gas grenades at homes and aggravated assault—as a form of revenge for attacks against Israeli citizens perpetrated by Palestinians during that time, such as the murder of Na’ama and Eitam Heinkin.
The trial of the three other members of the cell is still ongoing.
The suspects confessed to the crimes attributed to them and have even reenacted several of the incidents. They admitted that their objective was to sow fear and panic among the Palestinian residents of the West Bank and to send a message to the Israeli public and security forces.
One of the defendants, who was a 16-year-old minor at the time the crimes were committed, was convicted as part of a plea bargain of membership in a terrorist organization, arson, assault under aggravated circumstances motivated by racism, sabotage with aggravated intent and other offenses. The court sentenced him to five years in prison.
Another defendant, who was a soldier at the time of the offenses, was convicted of arson, vandalism with racist motives, assault under aggravated circumstances motivated by racism and other offenses. The court sentenced him to 4.5 years in prison.
A third defendant was convicted of offenses that resulted in malicious damage stemming from racist motives, stone-throwing at vehicles and other offenses, and the court sentenced him to 32 months in prison.
The defendants were also required to pay an agreed-upon compensation of NIS 50,000 to their victims.
The Central District Attoney's Office said the crimes were "motivated by racism and directed against Palestinians and their property, solely because of their religious or national affiliation," adding the case "exemplifies the determination of the law enforcement authorities to eliminate violent acts, especially when they constitute acts of terror and on a clearly nationalistic background."
The attorney who represents the three, Sonia Harizi Moses of the right-wing legal aid organization Honenu, claimed the conviction "did not take into account (the fact that) the defendants, who are all related, were minors at the time of most of the offenses (were carried out) and underwent a difficult time in their lives that I cannot divulge," and that no lives were harmed by their actions.
"The verdict is very strict and we intend to consider an appeal to the Supreme Court," she added.
Yesh Din, a left-wing legal NGO that represents some of the victims in the case, responded by asserting it is "a miracle" that lives were not harmed by the three's actions, which they referred to as "Jewish terrorism," noting the court's decision to convict them of membership in a terror organization.
Three brothers, settlers and members of a six-person Jewish terror cell, were sentenced Thursday to prison terms ranging from 32 months to five years for their part in hate crimes committed against Palestinians in 2014 and 2015.
They were convicted of a series of "price tag" felonies, which took place in the Gush Talmonim area near Ramallah—including torching vehicles, throwing Molotov cocktails and gas grenades at homes and aggravated assault—as a form of revenge for attacks against Israeli citizens perpetrated by Palestinians during that time, such as the murder of Na’ama and Eitam Heinkin.
The trial of the three other members of the cell is still ongoing.
The suspects confessed to the crimes attributed to them and have even reenacted several of the incidents. They admitted that their objective was to sow fear and panic among the Palestinian residents of the West Bank and to send a message to the Israeli public and security forces.
One of the defendants, who was a 16-year-old minor at the time the crimes were committed, was convicted as part of a plea bargain of membership in a terrorist organization, arson, assault under aggravated circumstances motivated by racism, sabotage with aggravated intent and other offenses. The court sentenced him to five years in prison.
Another defendant, who was a soldier at the time of the offenses, was convicted of arson, vandalism with racist motives, assault under aggravated circumstances motivated by racism and other offenses. The court sentenced him to 4.5 years in prison.
A third defendant was convicted of offenses that resulted in malicious damage stemming from racist motives, stone-throwing at vehicles and other offenses, and the court sentenced him to 32 months in prison.
The defendants were also required to pay an agreed-upon compensation of NIS 50,000 to their victims.
The Central District Attoney's Office said the crimes were "motivated by racism and directed against Palestinians and their property, solely because of their religious or national affiliation," adding the case "exemplifies the determination of the law enforcement authorities to eliminate violent acts, especially when they constitute acts of terror and on a clearly nationalistic background."
The attorney who represents the three, Sonia Harizi Moses of the right-wing legal aid organization Honenu, claimed the conviction "did not take into account (the fact that) the defendants, who are all related, were minors at the time of most of the offenses (were carried out) and underwent a difficult time in their lives that I cannot divulge," and that no lives were harmed by their actions.
"The verdict is very strict and we intend to consider an appeal to the Supreme Court," she added.
Yesh Din, a left-wing legal NGO that represents some of the victims in the case, responded by asserting it is "a miracle" that lives were not harmed by the three's actions, which they referred to as "Jewish terrorism," noting the court's decision to convict them of membership in a terror organization.
27 mar 2018
Mahmoud Ahmad Odeh, 46
The Israeli prosecutor’s office has dropped all charges against an Israeli colonizer who, on November 30, 2017, shot and killed a Palestinian farmer, after a group of colonizers attacked Palestinians who were working in their orchard.
Israeli sources said the prosecution ruled that the colonizers who opened fire on the Palestinians, including the one who killed Mahmoud Ahmad Odeh, 46, “acted in self-defense,” and alleged that the colonial Israeli settlers “were picnicking in the area when Mahmoud and several other Palestinians hurled stones at them, mildly wounding one.”
The prosecutor’s office therefore dropped the “negligent homicide” charges against the Israeli perpetrator who killed Odeh.
Palestinian eyewitnesses of the fatal Israeli attack contradicted the Israeli allegation and confirmed that the Israeli colonizers assaulted many Palestinian farmers in their olive orchards in Qusra village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and opened fire at them, killing Odeh after shooting him with a live round in the chest.
The incident took place when approximately 20 settlers who came from the illegal “Yesh Kod” outpost, which was built on private Palestinian lands, assaulted the Palestinian and his family, before one of them shot Mahmoud.
The colony where the Israeli assailants reside is nearly 15 kilometers away from the Odeh’s land.
Following the shooting, Emad Jamil, a member of Qusra Village Council, said that “It is clear they infiltrated the area, close to many Palestinian homes, with one goal in mind, to commit murder – there have been many attacks by colonists in this area, including the burning, cutting and uprooting of trees.”
Eyewitnesses said the colonizers attacked many farmers in the area, and assaulted Odeh while in his orchard in Ras al-Nakhel area, east of the village, before shooting him with a live round in the chest.
Hours after the fatal Israeli attack, dozens of settlers and soldiers invaded Qusra, before the army shot and seriously wounded one Palestinian in his pelvis, and injured many others, while the settlers also smashed the front windshield and one of the windows of a Palestinian ambulance, wounding the driver in his eye.
The Palestinian Red Crescent identified the injuries among the Palestinians as:
Scores of Palestinians who suffered the effects of teargas inhalation.
Case closed against parents who shot dead Palestinian attacker
Central District Attorney's Office cites lack of guilt in decision to close case against parents who accompanied group of 20 children on trip near Qusra and came under attack by a Palestinian mob; the shooting of Mahmoud Za’al Odeh, who was among the rioters, was found to be in self defense.
The Central District Attorney's Office said Monday it has decided to close the case against two Israelis who shot dead a Palestinian who was part of a group throwing stones at a group of children they were accompanying, citing lack of guilt.
The decision stated the shooting of 47-year-old Mahmoud Za’al Odeh from the village of Qusra was found to be in self defense.
On November 30, 2017, a group of 20 Israeli children and two parents accompanying them went on a Bar Mitzva trip near the village of Qusra, in the Nablus Governorate.
During their hike, the Israeli group came under attack by dozens of Palestinian rioters, including Odeh, who hurled rocks and stones at them from up a slope.
The two parents, who claimed they felt their lives were in danger, said they only fired warning shots into the air. One of the bullets hit Odeh, killing him.
The Israeli group fled their attackers into a cave, with some of the Palestinians pursuing and attacking the children and one of the parents, wounding the adult.
Some residents from Qusra came to aid the group of Israelis and protect them until IDF forces arrived at the scene to extract them.
The investigation confirmed that the shooting was done while the attackers were standing up the slope and throwing stones down at the Israeli group. This was in line with the Israeli suspects' version, whose shooting into the air could have conceivably hit Odeh, who was among the stone throwers.
In addition, the Israelis' version of events was backed by the testimony of one of Qusra's residents, who said the suspects fired only in self defense and only after stones were thrown at them.
Some of the attackers have been indicted by the Military Advocate General's Office.
Honenu, a legal NGO that has provided the Israeli suspects with legal assistance, said in a statement: "From the first moment it was clear that a barbaric mob attacked a group of hikers whose only sin was that they were Jews who went on a Bar Mitzva trip in the Land of Israel. We lament the injustice done to the parents so far, and the fact that immediately upon their discharge from the hospital they had to be questioned at the police station, and rather than receive a commendation, they were made suspects.
The police in their actions personally hurt the brave parents."
The Israeli prosecutor’s office has dropped all charges against an Israeli colonizer who, on November 30, 2017, shot and killed a Palestinian farmer, after a group of colonizers attacked Palestinians who were working in their orchard.
Israeli sources said the prosecution ruled that the colonizers who opened fire on the Palestinians, including the one who killed Mahmoud Ahmad Odeh, 46, “acted in self-defense,” and alleged that the colonial Israeli settlers “were picnicking in the area when Mahmoud and several other Palestinians hurled stones at them, mildly wounding one.”
The prosecutor’s office therefore dropped the “negligent homicide” charges against the Israeli perpetrator who killed Odeh.
Palestinian eyewitnesses of the fatal Israeli attack contradicted the Israeli allegation and confirmed that the Israeli colonizers assaulted many Palestinian farmers in their olive orchards in Qusra village, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, and opened fire at them, killing Odeh after shooting him with a live round in the chest.
The incident took place when approximately 20 settlers who came from the illegal “Yesh Kod” outpost, which was built on private Palestinian lands, assaulted the Palestinian and his family, before one of them shot Mahmoud.
The colony where the Israeli assailants reside is nearly 15 kilometers away from the Odeh’s land.
Following the shooting, Emad Jamil, a member of Qusra Village Council, said that “It is clear they infiltrated the area, close to many Palestinian homes, with one goal in mind, to commit murder – there have been many attacks by colonists in this area, including the burning, cutting and uprooting of trees.”
Eyewitnesses said the colonizers attacked many farmers in the area, and assaulted Odeh while in his orchard in Ras al-Nakhel area, east of the village, before shooting him with a live round in the chest.
Hours after the fatal Israeli attack, dozens of settlers and soldiers invaded Qusra, before the army shot and seriously wounded one Palestinian in his pelvis, and injured many others, while the settlers also smashed the front windshield and one of the windows of a Palestinian ambulance, wounding the driver in his eye.
The Palestinian Red Crescent identified the injuries among the Palestinians as:
- Two who were shot with live rounds in the pelvis, and the leg.
- Two who were shot with rubber-coated steel bullets.
- Two who were assaulted and beaten by soldiers and settlers.
- One ambulance driver wounded in his eye.
Scores of Palestinians who suffered the effects of teargas inhalation.
Case closed against parents who shot dead Palestinian attacker
Central District Attorney's Office cites lack of guilt in decision to close case against parents who accompanied group of 20 children on trip near Qusra and came under attack by a Palestinian mob; the shooting of Mahmoud Za’al Odeh, who was among the rioters, was found to be in self defense.
The Central District Attorney's Office said Monday it has decided to close the case against two Israelis who shot dead a Palestinian who was part of a group throwing stones at a group of children they were accompanying, citing lack of guilt.
The decision stated the shooting of 47-year-old Mahmoud Za’al Odeh from the village of Qusra was found to be in self defense.
On November 30, 2017, a group of 20 Israeli children and two parents accompanying them went on a Bar Mitzva trip near the village of Qusra, in the Nablus Governorate.
During their hike, the Israeli group came under attack by dozens of Palestinian rioters, including Odeh, who hurled rocks and stones at them from up a slope.
The two parents, who claimed they felt their lives were in danger, said they only fired warning shots into the air. One of the bullets hit Odeh, killing him.
The Israeli group fled their attackers into a cave, with some of the Palestinians pursuing and attacking the children and one of the parents, wounding the adult.
Some residents from Qusra came to aid the group of Israelis and protect them until IDF forces arrived at the scene to extract them.
The investigation confirmed that the shooting was done while the attackers were standing up the slope and throwing stones down at the Israeli group. This was in line with the Israeli suspects' version, whose shooting into the air could have conceivably hit Odeh, who was among the stone throwers.
In addition, the Israelis' version of events was backed by the testimony of one of Qusra's residents, who said the suspects fired only in self defense and only after stones were thrown at them.
Some of the attackers have been indicted by the Military Advocate General's Office.
Honenu, a legal NGO that has provided the Israeli suspects with legal assistance, said in a statement: "From the first moment it was clear that a barbaric mob attacked a group of hikers whose only sin was that they were Jews who went on a Bar Mitzva trip in the Land of Israel. We lament the injustice done to the parents so far, and the fact that immediately upon their discharge from the hospital they had to be questioned at the police station, and rather than receive a commendation, they were made suspects.
The police in their actions personally hurt the brave parents."
22 mar 2018
19-year-old Israeli toured death camp with group of tourists, caught by guide urinating; police detains him for questioning, in which he confesses, says willing to accept any punishment; MFA: Israeli released after several hours.
A 19-year-old Israeli was arrested and questioned Wednesday after being caught urinating in the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp while on tour there with a group of other tourists.
During the tour, the group's guide noticed he was urinating and quickly alerted the police, who detained him for questioning.
In his interrogation, the Polish report said, he admitted to committing the act and said he would accept any punishment levied on him.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry added he was released after being questioned for several hours.
Comment provided by Auschwitz said, "Yesterday at the site of the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau site, a young person from Israel was indeed spotted urinating while standing on the monument that commemorates all victims of the camp.
"The monument is located between the ruins of the gas chambers and crematoria II and III. This extremely sad and disturbing incident was immediately noticed by our staff and other visitors. Our security intervened and police was called."
A 19-year-old Israeli was arrested and questioned Wednesday after being caught urinating in the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp while on tour there with a group of other tourists.
During the tour, the group's guide noticed he was urinating and quickly alerted the police, who detained him for questioning.
In his interrogation, the Polish report said, he admitted to committing the act and said he would accept any punishment levied on him.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry added he was released after being questioned for several hours.
Comment provided by Auschwitz said, "Yesterday at the site of the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau site, a young person from Israel was indeed spotted urinating while standing on the monument that commemorates all victims of the camp.
"The monument is located between the ruins of the gas chambers and crematoria II and III. This extremely sad and disturbing incident was immediately noticed by our staff and other visitors. Our security intervened and police was called."
