25 aug 2018
Gadi Eisenkot
In wake of the submarine affair, IDF chief Eisenkot appointes team to examine matters of conflicts of interest among IDF officers, especially relating to procurement, and enact proactive measures to combat phenomenon.
While the police continue their investigation into the Submarine Affair, the IDF is already drawing conclusions and proceeding to implement a preliminary safeguarding measure: senior and junior officers involved in procurement will need to fill out a questionnaire to determine whether there exists any conflict of interest.
The submarine affair relates to alleged corruption tied to the procurement of vessels and patrol ships for Israel's Navy from the Germany-based ThyssenKrupp company.
In light of the affair, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot appointed Maj. Gen. (res.) Yishai Bar to head a team to examine the matter conflicts of interest between IDF officers and external elements related to purchasing, and to recommend steps necessary to combat the phenomenon.
The team, which included representatives of the Military Advocate General's Office and the IDF Manpower Directorate, was designed to deal with situations in which IDF officers have relatives who conduct business activities relating to the army, as well as with reserve officers who work in the defense industries on matters related to their military service.
Following the recommendations formulated by the team, it was decided in the army that officers assigned to senior positions (from the rank of colonel and up) or sensitive positions (procurement, for example) will be required to fill out a questionnaire intended to identify possible conflicts of interest.
In addition, it was decided to raise awareness of the problem in the IDF and to instruct the officers on how to deal with situations in which there is a concern of conflict of interest.
The implementation of an ethical code for officers whose work relates to dealing with civilian entities is also being examined.
As a result of the team’s work, it was further determined that matters in which a possible concern for conflicts of interest arose will be brought before special committees that will be set up to deal with the matter. A General Staff committee will deal with special cases and those involving senior officers.
The committees will be able to make decisions such as transferring responsibility to another officer or conducting inspections of all the decisions that a commander makes on a particular matter.
Officials explained that the committees were set up out of an ethical need, namely to ensure IDF officers are careful and serve as an example of integrity.
It should be noted that similar rules, and the obligation to fill out a questionnaire to identify situations that raise conflict of interest concerns exist in some institutions in the public sector.
Even before the dedicated committees were set up, IDF officers were required to report any incidents in which a conflict of interest concern was present, as is common in the public sector.
In wake of the submarine affair, IDF chief Eisenkot appointes team to examine matters of conflicts of interest among IDF officers, especially relating to procurement, and enact proactive measures to combat phenomenon.
While the police continue their investigation into the Submarine Affair, the IDF is already drawing conclusions and proceeding to implement a preliminary safeguarding measure: senior and junior officers involved in procurement will need to fill out a questionnaire to determine whether there exists any conflict of interest.
The submarine affair relates to alleged corruption tied to the procurement of vessels and patrol ships for Israel's Navy from the Germany-based ThyssenKrupp company.
In light of the affair, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot appointed Maj. Gen. (res.) Yishai Bar to head a team to examine the matter conflicts of interest between IDF officers and external elements related to purchasing, and to recommend steps necessary to combat the phenomenon.
The team, which included representatives of the Military Advocate General's Office and the IDF Manpower Directorate, was designed to deal with situations in which IDF officers have relatives who conduct business activities relating to the army, as well as with reserve officers who work in the defense industries on matters related to their military service.
Following the recommendations formulated by the team, it was decided in the army that officers assigned to senior positions (from the rank of colonel and up) or sensitive positions (procurement, for example) will be required to fill out a questionnaire intended to identify possible conflicts of interest.
In addition, it was decided to raise awareness of the problem in the IDF and to instruct the officers on how to deal with situations in which there is a concern of conflict of interest.
The implementation of an ethical code for officers whose work relates to dealing with civilian entities is also being examined.
As a result of the team’s work, it was further determined that matters in which a possible concern for conflicts of interest arose will be brought before special committees that will be set up to deal with the matter. A General Staff committee will deal with special cases and those involving senior officers.
The committees will be able to make decisions such as transferring responsibility to another officer or conducting inspections of all the decisions that a commander makes on a particular matter.
Officials explained that the committees were set up out of an ethical need, namely to ensure IDF officers are careful and serve as an example of integrity.
It should be noted that similar rules, and the obligation to fill out a questionnaire to identify situations that raise conflict of interest concerns exist in some institutions in the public sector.
Even before the dedicated committees were set up, IDF officers were required to report any incidents in which a conflict of interest concern was present, as is common in the public sector.
After 3 Arabs from Shfaram were attacked at Kiryat Haim beach, police detain 29-year-old man on suspicion of involvement in crime; two suspects detained so far, with one of them being released to 3-day house arrest; victims say racism led to attack.
The Police detained Saturday a 29-year-old from Nesher on suspicion of involvement in the beating of three Arabs from Shfaram at the Kiryat Haim beach in Haifa on Monday.
The victims—a doctor from Ichilov Hospital at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, a 28-year-old nurse and a 20-year-old man—described the chain of events leading to their attack.
“We were sitting on on the beach for about half an hour when a Jewish man walked up to us and asked if we were Arabs. We said ‘yes, what do you want?’, and he just left. We thought that he might be drunk.
"The man returned shortly, this time accompanied by many others," the victims elaborated.
“After two minutes he came back with nine other people with knives, metal chains and bars and just started to beat us,” they recalled.
“They started hitting us with no mercy, in all parts of our body, when we were sitting down. They wanted to kill us, just because we are Arabs,” they added, and mentioned they were hit in the head, upper limbs, knees and back.
“Two Jewish men passed by, pushed them back from us and called the police and Magen David Adom (MDA). The two Jewish men gave us water and helped us," they added.
One of the men who were attacked said, “It hurts my heart, because in my profession I treat Jews. I have never looked at a man’s origin. I also have Jewish friends and I live among Jews.”
The men also said that the attackers swore at them and said “you are Arab dogs, don’t stay here.”
A police statement said that the three were sitting on a beach in Kiryat Haim, when the first suspect, a 23-year-old from Kiryat Haim, came up to talk to the victims. He later returned with his friends and together they attacked the three.
Following the attack the three men were sent to the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa for medical care, where they filed a complaint over the attack.
“We didn’t hurt anyone,” they told Ynet on Friday. “They just started beating us with no reason. They almost killed us. We asked them to stop but they kept going. They were only pushed away when other people arrived. We hope the police will apprehend them,” they concluded.
The Haifa Magistrate's Court ordered the release of one of the suspects in the attack who was detained earlier Saturday, a 23-year-old from Kiryat Haim. He was released to a three-day house arrest.
Judge Gil Karseboom decided on the release due to lack of evidence linking the suspect to the attack, and the fact that police did not examine his alibi claims during the first 24 since his arrest as well as not performing a suspects line up.
The police asked for the decision to be delayed until Sunday morning. However, the judge delayed his decision to 11pm on Saturday — merely an hour and a half after the decision was made.
The police can now appeal to the District Court.
Attorney Lior Bar-Zohar who is representing the suspect said that his remand was based on information given by the complainants rather than evidence, asking to release the suspect immediately.
The Police detained Saturday a 29-year-old from Nesher on suspicion of involvement in the beating of three Arabs from Shfaram at the Kiryat Haim beach in Haifa on Monday.
The victims—a doctor from Ichilov Hospital at the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, a 28-year-old nurse and a 20-year-old man—described the chain of events leading to their attack.
“We were sitting on on the beach for about half an hour when a Jewish man walked up to us and asked if we were Arabs. We said ‘yes, what do you want?’, and he just left. We thought that he might be drunk.
"The man returned shortly, this time accompanied by many others," the victims elaborated.
“After two minutes he came back with nine other people with knives, metal chains and bars and just started to beat us,” they recalled.
“They started hitting us with no mercy, in all parts of our body, when we were sitting down. They wanted to kill us, just because we are Arabs,” they added, and mentioned they were hit in the head, upper limbs, knees and back.
“Two Jewish men passed by, pushed them back from us and called the police and Magen David Adom (MDA). The two Jewish men gave us water and helped us," they added.
One of the men who were attacked said, “It hurts my heart, because in my profession I treat Jews. I have never looked at a man’s origin. I also have Jewish friends and I live among Jews.”
The men also said that the attackers swore at them and said “you are Arab dogs, don’t stay here.”
A police statement said that the three were sitting on a beach in Kiryat Haim, when the first suspect, a 23-year-old from Kiryat Haim, came up to talk to the victims. He later returned with his friends and together they attacked the three.
Following the attack the three men were sent to the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa for medical care, where they filed a complaint over the attack.
“We didn’t hurt anyone,” they told Ynet on Friday. “They just started beating us with no reason. They almost killed us. We asked them to stop but they kept going. They were only pushed away when other people arrived. We hope the police will apprehend them,” they concluded.
The Haifa Magistrate's Court ordered the release of one of the suspects in the attack who was detained earlier Saturday, a 23-year-old from Kiryat Haim. He was released to a three-day house arrest.
Judge Gil Karseboom decided on the release due to lack of evidence linking the suspect to the attack, and the fact that police did not examine his alibi claims during the first 24 since his arrest as well as not performing a suspects line up.
The police asked for the decision to be delayed until Sunday morning. However, the judge delayed his decision to 11pm on Saturday — merely an hour and a half after the decision was made.
The police can now appeal to the District Court.
Attorney Lior Bar-Zohar who is representing the suspect said that his remand was based on information given by the complainants rather than evidence, asking to release the suspect immediately.
24 aug 2018
While attempting to detain man suspected of shooting into the air in Sajur, 2 policemen are wounded in violent clashes with the community's residents, with suspect charging at them with a knife.
Two policeman and a Sajur resident were lightly wounded overnight Thursday during violent clashes in the Druze town.
A police force operating in Sajur, who were there as part of the campaign to eradicate illegal weapons possession and the phenomenon of residents firing guns into the air, spotted a shooting from one of the houses in the Druze community during a party.
The police force was attacked by several of the community's residents following its attempt to detain a suspect for firing his weapon, according to the police.
The suspect charged at the police force waving a knife while the force was being attacked.
In addition to the injuries, damage was caused to the police force's vehicle.
Sensing danger, the force opened fire, lightly wounding one of the men involved in the assault.
The man was detained after he had been evacuated to the hospital to receive medical attention.
Six more suspects were detained by the additional police forces that were called to the scene, including the man suspected of firing a shot into the air during the party.
The police confiscated the gun from which the shot had been allegedly fired.
The detainees were brought Friday morning before Haifa's Magistrate's Court where a hearing was held into the extension of their remand.
The police issued a statement saying, "We view gravely any attempt to harm public servants in their line of duty and we will act to fully exhaust the law with those endangering public security in general and the wellbeing of those serving the public in particular."
Two policeman and a Sajur resident were lightly wounded overnight Thursday during violent clashes in the Druze town.
A police force operating in Sajur, who were there as part of the campaign to eradicate illegal weapons possession and the phenomenon of residents firing guns into the air, spotted a shooting from one of the houses in the Druze community during a party.
The police force was attacked by several of the community's residents following its attempt to detain a suspect for firing his weapon, according to the police.
The suspect charged at the police force waving a knife while the force was being attacked.
In addition to the injuries, damage was caused to the police force's vehicle.
Sensing danger, the force opened fire, lightly wounding one of the men involved in the assault.
The man was detained after he had been evacuated to the hospital to receive medical attention.
Six more suspects were detained by the additional police forces that were called to the scene, including the man suspected of firing a shot into the air during the party.
The police confiscated the gun from which the shot had been allegedly fired.
The detainees were brought Friday morning before Haifa's Magistrate's Court where a hearing was held into the extension of their remand.
The police issued a statement saying, "We view gravely any attempt to harm public servants in their line of duty and we will act to fully exhaust the law with those endangering public security in general and the wellbeing of those serving the public in particular."
21 aug 2018
Roy Erez, who was sailing on his yacht from Panama toward Jamaica, says he was boarded by pirates who forced him at gunpoint to take on a passenger, who is apparently wanted by Colombian authorities; Colombian Navy arrests Erez, tows his sail boat to San Andrés.
Roy Erez, an Israeli sailing on his yacht from Panama toward Jamaica, was arrested Tuesday by Colombia's Navy on the suspicion he was transporting a wanted Colombian man to Jamaica.
Erez claims he encountered a pirate ship two days ago, and was forced at gunpoint by the crew to allow the wanted man to board. Only later did he learn the man was wanted by Colombian authorities.
Erez and his wanted passenger are being led by the Colombian Navy away from international waters and towards Colombia, and Erez fears he could face arrest upon his arrival there.
Erez left Israel on his sail boat last month, and recently arrived in Panama, according to his sister, Karin Erez Azulay.
In Panama, the local Chabad House introduced him to an Israeli couple for a three-day sail. After dropping them off on Monday, Erez left for Jamaica.
"When he was in international waters, a group of fishermen/pirates stopped him and forced him—by threatening him with a loaded rifle—to take a man he did not know to Jamaica on his boat. He was forced to oblige them out of fear for his life," Karin wrote in a Facebook post that has gone viral.
"Several hours ago, a Colombian missile ship with soldiers violently took over his boat, causing great damage. At present, they are towing the boat to Colombia, with five armed soldiers on board as well as my brother Roy Erez and the wanted passenger," she added.
She went on to say that her brother "is concerned by the aggression used against him and of what might happen to him once he gets to Colombia. He's in this situation against his will and feels helpless. He's very concerned he'd be tied to a matter he has no part in."
The yacht is being towed toward the San Andrés Navy base in Colombia.
"We're very worried and want to bring Roy back home safely," the sister concluded.
Since Erez is a dual Israeli-German national, the family turned to both Israeli Foreign Ministry and to the German Embassy for help.
The Foreign Ministry said Israel's consul general in Bogotá, Yuval Sharabi, is looking into the details of the incident with the help of local contacts.
Roy Erez, an Israeli sailing on his yacht from Panama toward Jamaica, was arrested Tuesday by Colombia's Navy on the suspicion he was transporting a wanted Colombian man to Jamaica.
Erez claims he encountered a pirate ship two days ago, and was forced at gunpoint by the crew to allow the wanted man to board. Only later did he learn the man was wanted by Colombian authorities.
Erez and his wanted passenger are being led by the Colombian Navy away from international waters and towards Colombia, and Erez fears he could face arrest upon his arrival there.
Erez left Israel on his sail boat last month, and recently arrived in Panama, according to his sister, Karin Erez Azulay.
In Panama, the local Chabad House introduced him to an Israeli couple for a three-day sail. After dropping them off on Monday, Erez left for Jamaica.
"When he was in international waters, a group of fishermen/pirates stopped him and forced him—by threatening him with a loaded rifle—to take a man he did not know to Jamaica on his boat. He was forced to oblige them out of fear for his life," Karin wrote in a Facebook post that has gone viral.
"Several hours ago, a Colombian missile ship with soldiers violently took over his boat, causing great damage. At present, they are towing the boat to Colombia, with five armed soldiers on board as well as my brother Roy Erez and the wanted passenger," she added.
She went on to say that her brother "is concerned by the aggression used against him and of what might happen to him once he gets to Colombia. He's in this situation against his will and feels helpless. He's very concerned he'd be tied to a matter he has no part in."
The yacht is being towed toward the San Andrés Navy base in Colombia.
"We're very worried and want to bring Roy back home safely," the sister concluded.
Since Erez is a dual Israeli-German national, the family turned to both Israeli Foreign Ministry and to the German Embassy for help.
The Foreign Ministry said Israel's consul general in Bogotá, Yuval Sharabi, is looking into the details of the incident with the help of local contacts.
20 aug 2018
Dolev Zuarez being brough into custudy
Eyal Bokel and Dolev Zuarez convicted of killing the Israeli criminal Maor Malul in the island of Ko Samui in January in a sentence considered mild in Thailand, which has capital punishment for premeditated murder.
A court in Thailand sentenced two Israelis, Eyal Bokel—brother of Baruch Bokel, who heads a crime syndicate in Netanya—and Dolev Zuarez, to 25 years in prison for the murder of Israeli criminal Maor Malul in the island of Ko Samui, an inside source said Monday.
The two ran Malul over with a jeep and then stabbed him multiple times in January of this year.
This sentence is considered mild in Thailand, as the two could have gotten the death penalty for premeditated murder.
Video documenting the murder shows a car hitting the moped Malul and his wife were driving. Malul is then seen getting up to help his wife, but then he runs back when the car reverses. A few seconds later, the car hits Malul, who is trying to escape.
Then a man wearing all black is seen coming out of the car with a knife, chasing him. This was likely the point Malul was stabbed. The attacker is then seen entering the car and escaping the scene.
Eyal Bokel and Dolev Zuarez convicted of killing the Israeli criminal Maor Malul in the island of Ko Samui in January in a sentence considered mild in Thailand, which has capital punishment for premeditated murder.
A court in Thailand sentenced two Israelis, Eyal Bokel—brother of Baruch Bokel, who heads a crime syndicate in Netanya—and Dolev Zuarez, to 25 years in prison for the murder of Israeli criminal Maor Malul in the island of Ko Samui, an inside source said Monday.
The two ran Malul over with a jeep and then stabbed him multiple times in January of this year.
This sentence is considered mild in Thailand, as the two could have gotten the death penalty for premeditated murder.
Video documenting the murder shows a car hitting the moped Malul and his wife were driving. Malul is then seen getting up to help his wife, but then he runs back when the car reverses. A few seconds later, the car hits Malul, who is trying to escape.
Then a man wearing all black is seen coming out of the car with a knife, chasing him. This was likely the point Malul was stabbed. The attacker is then seen entering the car and escaping the scene.
Eyal Bokel being brough into custudy
Thai media reported that the two suspects abandoned their vehicle three kilometers from the scene, near Bophut Beach on the northern part of the island, and fled into a wooded area. The Thai press added that the police questioned two Israelis who were staying at the Ark Bar hotel, since the car was registered in one of their names.
Thai media further reported that Bokel and Zuarez had managed to take a motor boat from Ko Samui to Surat Thani, where they took a Thai Airways flight to Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok. There they were arrested by Thai immigration police at around 10:30pm that same day.
A day later, the two were seen handcuffed and surrounded by Thai police officers. A video showed all their luggage spread out, while police forces surrounding them are being briefed. Another video showed three kitchen knives stained with blood, and another plastic knife.
Jacky Sagroun, the lawyer who represented Bokel and Zuarez in Israel, refused to comment.
Thai media reported that the two suspects abandoned their vehicle three kilometers from the scene, near Bophut Beach on the northern part of the island, and fled into a wooded area. The Thai press added that the police questioned two Israelis who were staying at the Ark Bar hotel, since the car was registered in one of their names.
Thai media further reported that Bokel and Zuarez had managed to take a motor boat from Ko Samui to Surat Thani, where they took a Thai Airways flight to Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok. There they were arrested by Thai immigration police at around 10:30pm that same day.
A day later, the two were seen handcuffed and surrounded by Thai police officers. A video showed all their luggage spread out, while police forces surrounding them are being briefed. Another video showed three kitchen knives stained with blood, and another plastic knife.
Jacky Sagroun, the lawyer who represented Bokel and Zuarez in Israel, refused to comment.
Maor Malul
In August 2015, Malul and an accomplice, Ron Shevach, attempted to assassinate Baruch Bokel, a Netanya criminal.
According to an indictment filed against them, Malul and Shevach ambushed Bokel as he headed home on his motorbike. Malul, who was driving a Toyota, accelerated and hit Bokel. Shevach, who was in the back seat, got out of the car with a loaded gun and wearing a mask.
Shevach and Bokel fought over control of the gun, which went off, with a bullet hitting Bokel in his left thigh. Still, Bokel managed to wrestle the gun away and remove Shevach's mask.
Bokel also fired a shot at the road "to make sure the gun worked" in case the two attacked him again, before being taken to the hospital in serious condition.
A few months before that assassination attempt, Avi Malul, the brother of Maor, was shot and killed in Kfar Yona.
Bokel's brother was also targeted by an explosive device, which seriously injured him. His Netanya business was also a target of arson.
In a plea bargain, Malul was convicted of assisting in aggravated battery and sentenced to only 20 months in prison. The case was lacking in critical evidence and the prosecutor was concerned the police's methods would be exposed during the trial.
In August 2015, Malul and an accomplice, Ron Shevach, attempted to assassinate Baruch Bokel, a Netanya criminal.
According to an indictment filed against them, Malul and Shevach ambushed Bokel as he headed home on his motorbike. Malul, who was driving a Toyota, accelerated and hit Bokel. Shevach, who was in the back seat, got out of the car with a loaded gun and wearing a mask.
Shevach and Bokel fought over control of the gun, which went off, with a bullet hitting Bokel in his left thigh. Still, Bokel managed to wrestle the gun away and remove Shevach's mask.
Bokel also fired a shot at the road "to make sure the gun worked" in case the two attacked him again, before being taken to the hospital in serious condition.
A few months before that assassination attempt, Avi Malul, the brother of Maor, was shot and killed in Kfar Yona.
Bokel's brother was also targeted by an explosive device, which seriously injured him. His Netanya business was also a target of arson.
In a plea bargain, Malul was convicted of assisting in aggravated battery and sentenced to only 20 months in prison. The case was lacking in critical evidence and the prosecutor was concerned the police's methods would be exposed during the trial.
