The Case Against Edna Arbel

[Oh Jerusalem]

Edna Arbel is Israel's State Chief Prosecutor.

This just came in on Arutz 7 news (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=56861):

Shteinitz Calls on Arbel to Step Down from her Post
13:40 Jan 27, '04 / 4 Shevat 5764


(IsraelNN.com) MK (Likud) Yuval Shteinitz, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee, has called on State Prosecutor Edna Arbel to step down from her post.

Shteinitz accuses Arbel of working to “coerce” newly appointed Attorney General Menahem Mazuz to file a criminal indictment against Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on corruption charges. “She has crossed a red line” exclaimed Shteinitz, demanding that Arbel resign her senior position and face the consequences of her unacceptable actions.

Arbel, according to many, especially in the right wing of Israeli politics, has a track record showing extreme left tendencies prejudicing her judgements throughout here carreer.

The purpose of my starting this thread is to find out whether there's a basis to such accusations.

Links, ananlysis and comments are welcome. I hope many of you will take a sincere interest in this topic.

I am personally of the belief that this woman has performed numerous miscarriages of justice and has placed her personal opinions and political agendas above her requirement to be an objective part of Israel's justice system.

[Oh Jerusalem]

As a general introduction of the theme that lies behind the accusations against Arbel, take a look at From Federman to Tapuach to the Hague, and back, By Moshe Feiglin (http://web.israelinsider.com/bin/en.jsp?enPage=ViewsPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enDispWho=Article%5El3225&enZone=Views&enVersion=0&)

The article doesn't refer to Arbel specifically. In a nutshell, Feiglin points out how law, without justice, is being used to abuse those that annoy the political left.

Here's another Arbel resign news item, from almost two years ago:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=1803

Mayor Olmert Calls On Arbel To Step Down
11:23 Apr. 02, '01 / 9 Nisan 5761


(IsraelNationalNews.com) Speaking during an Israel Radio interview on Sunday, Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert called upon State Prosecutor Edna Arbel to consider submitting her resignation following the acquittal of former Minister of Internal Security Avigdor Kahalani.

Olmert pointed out that the latest acquittal was another example of Arbel’s office handing down a criminal indictment against a public official despite lacking evidence or an adequate case to justify criminal charges. Olmert pointed to Arbel’s track record, adding there was no need to say more. He explained that she lacks the professional judgment to continue in her senior position.

State Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein defended Arbel in his response to Olmert’s comments.


And another one:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=55342

Lieberman Attacks State Prosecutor Arbel
14:16 Dec 30, '03 / 5 Tevet 5764


(IsraelNN.com) Minister (National Union) Avigdor Lieberman this morning told Army Radio that State Prosecutor Edna Arbel continues to hound him because he is a “friend of Aryeh Deri, Russian, sports a beard, and a settler”.

Lieberman added that a case against him for alleged dealings with Russian organized crime remains open for five years. He called on Arbel to file charges and place him in prison or close the case.

Arbel’s former assistant Yehoshua Resnick, who was also interviewed by Army Radio, concurred with Lieberman. He stated there is no reason for a case to remain open for five years. Resnick did not agree with allegations made by Lieberman however, explaining an investigation against him was never launched due to his personal political leanings or ethnicity.

[Dyeus]

It is my personal believe that one that has a public post should not make aquisations without EVIDENCE. (also goes for people without a public post but that is another story), it is wrong and im-moral especialy when they know it is not true

[L@mplighterM]

Politicians shouldn’t use their political influence to persuade an Attorney General to bring criminal charges against anyone. Once that threshold is crossed it could become a criminal offence depending on the circumstances.

I can see a politician forwarding documentation to a District Attorney and having discussions relating to information contained therein.

IMO it would also be in order for Arbel to go public with her allegations.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Originally posted by L@mplighterM
Politicians shouldn’t use their political influence to persuade an Attorney General to bring criminal charges against anyone. Once that threshold is crossed it could become a criminal offence depending on the circumstances.
The claims against Arbel is that she has her own political/idealogical agendas, not necessarily instigated by others.

I can see a politician forwarding documentation to a District Attorney and having discussions relating to information contained therein.
Nothing wrong with that.
IMO it would also be in order for Arbel to go public with her allegations.
If they're not finalized and not ready for issuing indictments, I disagree. This is what's happening and only leads to badmouthing and speculating against the accused.

[L@mplighterM]

Originally posted by Oh Jerusalem
The claims against Arbel is that she has her own political/idealogical agendas, not necessarily instigated by others.

Nothing wrong with that.

If they're not finalized and not ready for issuing indictments, I disagree. This is what's happening and only leads to badmouthing and speculating against the accused.

Doesn't every politician have their own political agenda?

It seems to me that any charge(s) leveled remains an allegation until the individual is convicted. Isn't that how the Israeli judicial system works?

I think she broke what should be considered a cardinal rule! Don’t use your influence with an Attorney General!

[Oh Jerusalem]

Originally posted by L@mplighterM
Doesn't every politician have their own political agenda?
A chief prosector is an appointed public servant, not an elected politician.
It seems to me that any charge(s) leveled remains an allegation until the individual is convicted. Isn't that how the Israeli judicial system works?
Of course but Arbel has aluded to charges without or prior to indicting people.
I think she broke what should be considered a cardinal rule! Don’t use your influence with an Attorney General!
No arguments from me there.

[L@mplighterM]

Originally posted by Oh Jerusalem
A chief prosector is an appointed public servant, not an elected politician.

Of course but Arbel has aluded to charges without or prior to indicting people.

No arguments from me there.


Everyone has his or her own agenda! Right?

Isn’t the allegation against Arbel just that? An allegation?

I’ve only glanced at the allegations that Sharon received $ 700,000 from the real estate developer (I forget his name at the moment). If indeed that allegation is founded shouldn’t he be impeached? I think the air needs to be cleared!

[Oh Jerusalem]

Originally posted by L@mplighterM
Isn’t the allegation against Arbel just that? An allegation?
1. I repeat what I said in the first post on the thread: The purpose of my starting this thread is to find out whether there's a basis to such accusations.

2. I am not Israel's Chief Prosecutor and not bound by the position's accepted norms and protocols.

There have been numerous articles in the Israeli press over the years showing how Arbel's legal judgement calls are constantly slanted, how there's been hanky-panky going on with underlings in her charge, etc. There's been a consistent pattern of skewed indictments, accusations and case handlings under her responsibility.

My problem is that I didn't cut and save all the articles that I've read on this over the past several years. IMO, this lady is a danger in her capacity as someone in charge of meeting out justice. Her anticipated goals are to make it to the Supreme Court, where she'll be in most welcome company. I believe she should be stopped.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Accusation: State Prosecutor Arbel Used Her Influence (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=57099)

17:55 Feb 01, '04 / 9 Shevat 5764

Investigative journalist Yoav Yitzchak has come out with another "scoop" - this time, several apparently damning allegations against State Prosecutor Edna Arbel.


Yoav Yitchak has done a number of successful scoops in the past.

I'm looking forward to his producing the details to the public.

I wouldn't be suprised if his car lost its brakes, either.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Edna Arbel might soon be in the spotlight again, though she needs to be put in the court docket. Dead fish smell better.


Probe Cmdr. Mizrahi (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1078208274209)

If investigative journalist Yoav Yitzhak is right, then ordinary Israelis have great cause for worry.

According to Yitzhak's scoop in yesterday's Ma'ariv, head of the Police Investigations Unit, Cmdr. Moshe Mizrahi illicitly taped and transcribed several of Moshe Katzav's phone conversations, when he was running or the Presidency in 2000.

It was such shenanigans that made former attorney-general Elyakim Rubinstein seek Mizrahi's removal.

Nothing, however, was done. Mizrahi remains in office, and as far as we know still in possession of his illegal tapes.

Now Yitzhak exposed new excesses in Mizrahi's alleged misconduct. His disclosures should first and foremost trouble Rubinstein's successor, Meni Mazuz.

Rubinstein was concerned over a number of cases in which senior police brass extended his very restricted permit to bug certain phones, not only to eavesdrop on politicians' private conversations (and those of their family members) but also to transcribe and hoard sensitive material which bore no relation to any investigation purportedly in progress.

Mizrahi's best-known victim thus far was Transport Minister Avigdor Lieberman, against whom Mizrahi has not produced a shred of evidence or even shown concrete grounds for suspicion. Mizrahi seems to have targeted him as part of a broad fishing expedition, seeking something to pin on Lieberman. For that purpose he kept a file of material obtained clandestinely, transcribed and preserved against explicit court orders.

Now Yitzhak provides dates, precise times and summaries of three conversations on July 27 and 28, 2000 between Katzav and businessman David Appel. These include evaluations of Katzav's chances in the presidential contest against Shimon Peres.

We suspect that no court ever sanctioned listening in on Katzav or any other of Appel's political interlocutors, nor allowed the transcription of totally innocuous conversations. The fact that top police personnel became privy in real time to Katzav's political maneuverings could conceivably have made it possible for them to tip off his rival or otherwise make use of forbidden knowledge.

Beyond the issue of basic civil liberties, and the right of individuals to privacy, political conversations can be very easily exploited to undermine and sabotage democratic processes. In the wrong hands they can be dynamite and no one can guarantee that Mizrahi's hands aren't the wrong hands.
As a new attorney general, Mazuz would be sending the wrong signal if he ignores these latest revelations.

Even if they hadn't come out, it's wrong to allow the Mizrahi affair to quietly fade away. But if, despite even these additional disclosures Mazuz chooses to shun the hot potato left him by Rubinstein, then he would be complicit in leaving an untreated stain on the rule of law.
True, it would take considerable courage to pick up where Rubinstein left off.

As Rubinstein's ex-deputy, Mazuz couldn't have failed to notice how much fire his boss attracted by daring to confront top cop, who incongruously had become the darling of self-styled champions of civil liberties.

It's no less incredible that self-proclaimed guardians of our collective ethics in the prosecution, press and political arena saw nothing wrong in a powerful police figure keeping files on politicians, a-la J. Edgar Hoover. Mizrahi's behavior is even more questionable considering that the reported victims of his hyper-activity all somehow hail from the same political camp.

Disconcertingly, thus far Mizrahi enjoyed the unstinting support of State-Attorney Edna Arbel, who locked horns with Rubinstein on Mizrahi's behalf. Her office yesterday denied any knowledge about taping Katsav. The police avoided the issue by noting that Appel has been charged (with offenses entirely unconnected to Katsav).

It is bad enough when politicians, charged with upholding and writing the law, violate and abuse it. We depend on an uncorruptible judicial branch and police investigators to keep politicians, among others, on the straight and narrow. If even these watchdogs of the law consider themselves above it, then the credibility of the entire system is called into quesiton.

We know where Rubinstein stood on this issue, and we know that it remains to be redressed. We now need to also know whether Mazuz will stand up for the law, or whether he will opt for the patently less moral, but also less risky path of doing nothing.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Edna's done it again (http://www.israelforum.com/board/showthread.php3?postid=88176#post88176).

[Oh Jerusalem]

I'm not alone. Note that Uri Dan is a bossum buddy of Sharon's.


Investigate Arbel (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1080707285035&p=1006953079865)
By URI DAN


It is up to Attorney-General Menahem Mazuz – and no one else – to decide whether to indict Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on charges of accepting bribes from businessman David Appel.

But the idea of innocent until proven guilty hasn't stopped the press from blackening Sharon's name or calling for his resignation. This character assassination campaign goes on at a time when the country is fighting for its very existence.

Had the affair been conducted following even a modicum of decency and legality, State Attorney Edna Arbel's recommendation to indict Sharon would have been kept secret.

Arbel and her colleagues – frankly, I think of them as Amazons of justice – leaked their anti-Sharon decision to the media even before informing Mazuz.

There is method behind this leakage madness. The goal is politically delegitimize Sharon. It is yet another attempt by a coterie of lawyers, journalists, and politicians to bring about Sharon's downfall. They just can't stomach a Likud or a Sharon in power. They are in denial that Sharon was elected – twice – to pursue an agenda that is diametrically opposed to their own.

In the winter of 1999, a similar campaign was waged against the Netanyahu government and against then foreign minister Sharon personally. Then, too, Haaretz was full of stories of how the police were investigating charges of bribery against Sharon. The head of the police investigations division then – as now – was Moshe Mizrahi. And the State Attorney's office pushed hard for an indictment against Sharon based on Mizrahi's "facts."

However, then attorney-general Elyakim Rubinstein determined there was no case. But in the meantime, Netanyahu lost the elections to Ehud Barak. The unfounded charges no doubt contributed to the delegitimization of the Likud government.

This same Mizrahi tapped countless telephone calls to and from David Appel. Rubinstein labeled Mizrahi's eavesdropping tactics a black hole in the rule of law. The phone taps – never deleted – included private political calls by Appel, who is a veteran Likud insider.

Rubinstein went so far as to demand that Mizrahi be transferred out of the investigations branch. But that aroused Arbel's wrath. She and her colleagues had actually given Mizrahi the legal backing for his tapping frenzy.

Recall, too, that Arbel gave Mizrahi these unprecedented police prerogatives when Ehud Barak's Labor Party was in power.

Five years later, she still had to justify tapping tens of thousands of calls. Otherwise, Arbel might be asked "How did you, and Mizrahi, dare to undermine the rule of law and Appel's civil liberties? Why waste scarce police budgetary and personnel resources for so many years?"
Hence the call for indictment.

Now Arbel has taken several phone calls between Sharon and Appel and presented them out of context, allowing her to concoct her call for indictment. Even a conversation between Appel and Sharon about a glatt kosher delicatessen finds its place in the records.

So that's the personal side of Arbel's wretched campaign against Sharon.

And the political side? One of Arbel's office favorites was former state prosecutor Liora Glatt-Berkowitz. She's now on trial in a Tel Aviv district court for leaking classified details to Haaretz at an earlier stage of Arbel's investigation of Sharon.

Glatt-Berkowitz admitted she leaked the documents on the eve of the Mitzna-Sharon elections because she was opposed to Sharon's policies and wanted him to lose.

What to do about this kind of abuse of power?
Arbel should be brought before a state inquiry commission to be established to investigate her professional conduct. She needs to explain her personal and political persecution of Sharon. It strikes me that Arbel wants to politically "lynch" Sharon and force Mazuz to issue an indictment. Meanwhile, her modus operandi has mostly served to undermine the justice system itself.

Tragically, in the very country that Ariel Sharon has spent a lifetime defending (against military and terrorist threats, and done so more successfully than any other leader or commander), those responsible for enforcing the rule of law failed to award him minimal justice.

Given the way Arbel has handled the case against Sharon, the prime minister has not had the opportunity to defend his good name. Due process has been scorned. And the personal and political fate of a great Israeli has been undermined.
What a scandalous injustice.

The writer is the Mideast correspondent of The New York Post.

[Oh Jerusalem]

MKs Move to Block Arbel Appointment to the High Court (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=61832)
12:57 May 04, '04 / 13 Iyar 5764

(IsraelNN.com) Six right-wing members of Knesset have requested an urgent meeting of the Knesset Law Committee in an effort to block the appointment of Edna Arbel to the Supreme Court bench. Committee chairman MK (Likud) Michael Eitan has agreed to the request and the committee will be meeting today.

The MKs are calling for a postponement of the likely appointment this Thursday, explaining there is a cloud over Arbel’s head regarding many cases against public officials initiated by her, leading some to believe she is not suited to the High Court appointment. One such case was her ordering a wiretap against then Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Persons affiliated with the political right question Arbel’s ability to render impartial rulings since her performance as state prosecutor has been tainted with an air of partiality in their opinion.

Critics of the effort to block the appointment, which is supported by Justice Minister Tommy Lapid, feel the political community is out of line for attempting to interfere with the high-level judicial appointment.

[Oh Jerusalem]

The Judges Selection Committee is now in session.

At the same time, news reports that Minister (Ministress? :rolleyes: ) of Education, Limor Livnat, is willing to take a polygraph test here and now to validate her claims against Edna Arbel.

And sinister Minister Tommy Lapid is trying to sweep everything under the rug and bulldoze the 4 "selected" appointees through to the open positions.

Somehow, "Night court" was funnier.

New Supreme Court judges to be announced (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1083726869940)
By DAN IZENBERG


The Judges Selection Committee is to begin the process of filling four vacancies on the Supreme Court from among 14 candidates on Thursday morning.

The committee will meet in the offices of Justice Minister Yosef Lapid at 10 a.m.

The nominees are former attorney-general Elyakim Rubinstein, State Attorney EdnaA rbel, District Court Judges Dvora Berliner, Salim Joubran, Bilha Gillor, David Cheshin, Esther Hayut, Oded Mudrik, and Jonathan Adiel, Bar-Ilan University Prof. Shalom Lerner, Hebrew University Prof. Ruth Gavison, and private lawyer Hanan Meltzer. Candidates Michael Corinaldi and Shmuel Yelinek have long-standing private practices and also teach law.

All-out war broke out on Wednesday between right-wing MKs and the Justice Ministry over whether or not State Attorney Arbel is a worthy candidate for the court.

Lapid, who promised long ago to support the candidacies of Arbel and Rubinstein, said that the recent "brutal" attacks against them have only served to finalize his decision to support them.

Meanwhile, one day after the Knesset Law Committee agreed not to issue an opinion on Thursday's proceedings in order not to encroach on the judicial branch of government, its chairman, Likud MK Michael Eitan, held a press conference to urge Arbel to stand down. He charged that the only reason she would be appointed to the court is because she is a close personal friend of Justice Dorit Beinisch, who is due to succeed Aharon Barak as court president in two years.

At the same time, Education Minister Limor Livnat sent a letter to the Judges Selection Committee, charging that Arbel had asked Livnat (when she was communications minister) to meet her husband to find him a job on the board of directors of one of the Bezeq companies.

On Tuesday, six right-wing MKs initiated a special Law Committee meeting to discuss the Judges Selection Committee procedures and Arbel's candidacy. MK Gilad Erdan (Likud) said he hoped the committee would influence the choice of justices appointed.

At the press conference, Eitan charged that Arbel "acted tirelessly using measures that would not shame the lowest politician in the Knesset... Without Justice Beinisch, [Arbel's] candidacy would be worth zero."

Livnat explained that she wrote her letter to clarify misinformation in some of the reports about the incident involving Arbel and her husband. The reports alleged that Arbel's approach came at a time when Livnat was under investigation and could have been construed as an attempt by Arbel to extract a bribe from Livnat in return for closing the case. But in his statement, Lapid said Livnat told him several days ago that Arbel's approach had been made long before the investigation began.

The entire top echelon of the Justice Ministry issued a statement condemning "the wild and unbridled attacks that have recently been leveled against public servants from the law enforcement system, especially the former attorney-general [Rubinstein] and the state attorney. Both have fulfilled their responsibilities in good faith over many years. Unfortunately, the attribution of personal interests, political and otherwise, to these public servants has become routine in these days, even though there is no cause for it and no proof."

Arbel responded to Livnat's letter, saying that she was not the one who had approached her, and that the episode, involving another person, had taken place more than a year before the investigation. In her statement, Arbel said she believes that the release of the letter "was one of a series of publications over the past few days meant to hurt her and cause her an injustice when she had committed no wrong."

In his statement, Lapid said he had examined the objections raised over the past 21 days against various candidates, including Rubinstein and Arbel, "and have not found evidence to support any of them. Beyond that, the brutal attack against the former attorney-general and especially against State Attorney Arbel have convinced me once and for all that this battle is over the survival of the rule of law in Israel. If I give in to the pressures, which are partly political and partly vengeful, there will no longer be an independent committee to elect those suitable to hold the highest offices in the land."

The last-minute attacks on Arbel overshadowed the larger picture in Thursday's proceedings. This is the first time that such a large number of candidates are competing for the available Supreme Court openings.

[Oh Jerusalem]

If only Sister Mary Elephant was there to shut them up.

Thank you.

Situation Heating Up Around Arbel Appointment (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=61955)
11:02 May 06, '04 / 15 Iyar 5764

(IsraelNN.com) MK (National Religious Party) Shaul Yahalom, a member of the committee deciding on High Court appointments today, stated, “There is a legitimate disagreement and we cannot make light of it. If [Justice Minister] Tommy Lapid wishes to refer to this as ‘political terrorism’, he is head of the political terrorists today”.

Lapid had harsh words for Yahalom and other right-wing elected officials, who remain opposed to the appointment of Edna Arbel as a Supreme Court judge.

On the other side of the fence, Labor MK Dalia Itzik, also a committee member is calling right-wing objections to Arbel’s appointment “witch hunt ”,“ terrorism” and “character assassination”.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Surprise! All the shoe-ins got the jobs.

Committee Announces High Court Appointments (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=61983)
17:05 May 06, '04 / 15 Iyar 5764

(IsraelNN.com) The committee selecting new High Court justices a short time ago announced the names of four of the five new judges who will serve on the Supreme Court bench.

State Prosecutor Edna Arbel was appointed as expected, despite growing opposition surrounding her appointment. The other expected appointments were former attorney general, Elyakim Rubinstein, as well as Esther Hayyut and Salim Jubran. Jubran, who served in an interim appointment slot, becomes the first Israeli Arab to serve as a permanent appointee to the Supreme Court.

The name of the fifth new justice will be announced at a later date after Chief Justice Prof. Aaron Barak and Justice Minister Tommy Lapid reach a decision.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Shaul Yahalom, of the National Religious Party - the sellout:

Eitan Concerned over Arbel Appointment (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=61985)
18:15 May 06, '04 / 15 Iyar 5764

(IsraelNN.com) MK (Likud) Michael Eitan, Chairman of the Knesset Law Committee, expressed his concerns over today’s appointment of State Prosecutor Edna Arbel as a justice on the Supreme Court bench. Eitan stated the appointment will only serve to further increase the distrust in the nation’s high court.

Eitan also had sharp words for National Religious Party MK Shaul Yahalom, who he said cut a deal with the justice minister and chief justice of the High Court, that he would retract his opposition for the Arbel appointment in exchange for the two appointing his candidate in the coming months to fill the court’s fifth judicial vacancy.

[Oh Jerusalem]

I have no idea where this one's going to go. Everyone's blaming everyone:

Three "Murderers" Released; Arbel Is Involved (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=62094)
16:20 May 09, '04 / 18 Iyar 5764

Hot on the heels of State Prosecutor Edna Arbel's controversial appointment to the Supreme Court on Thursday, a new scandal has arisen around her. The three alleged murderers of the missing soldier Oleg Shchaiat last July were released this morning, apparently because of lack of evidence - and sources close to the case say that the only reason they were indicted in the first place was because of "pressures" from State Prosecutor Arbel.

Shchaiat disappeared on July 21, 2003, when he was on his way home to Nazareth from a Kiryat Shmonah army base. His fate was unknown for a week while thousands of security personnel and volunteers searched for him, until his body was finally found. Three Israeli-Arabs were arrested two days later, and one of them even confessed to the murder, and re-enacted it for Shabak (General Security Service) investigators. The three later withdrew their confessions, and were released to house arrest this morning.

It is now reported that the Shabak originally objected to indicting the three, because it was felt that there was insufficient evidence. The Northern Police District did not object to today's release.

Edna Arbel was appointed to the Supreme Court this past Thursday, in one of the most heatedly-contested appointments in recent memory. She has been accused of using her position of influence to intervene on behalf of her husband on two separate occasions - asking then-Prime Minister Barak to arrange a position for her husband on the Board of Directors of Israel's shipping company, Zim Lines, and asking then-Communications Minister Limor Livnat to consider him for a position on the directorate of the Bezeq phone company. The Arbels deny both charges.

Edna Arbel has also been widely accused of pressuring the Prosecution to open investigations or to indict right-wing figures such as Binyamin Netanyahu, Ariel Sharon, Yaakov Ne'eman, and others. All cases ended either with acquittals or with no charges being filed at all.

[Binyamin]

Now the case against Sharon, the "Greek Island Affair", was closed. Not only was there insufficeint proof, there was no indications at all of wrongdoing.

But at least Arbel, we found out today, was against pressing charges before she was in favor.

[Binyamin]

.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Originally posted by Binyamin
But at least Arbel, we found out today, was against pressing charges before she was in favor.
She was in favor. What are you referring to?

And thanks for posting on my thread. I was getting lonely here. :(

[Binyamin]

Originally posted by Oh Jerusalem
She was in favor. What are you referring to?

Mazuz said that she suggested closing thew case three months before she openly advocated pressing charges.
Just one more thing to answer for, but it won't bother her. She's moved on to bigger and better things already. And don't expect to hear the media to be calling for her resignation or wondering how she will protect her reputation.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Originally posted by Binyamin
And don't expect to hear the media to be calling for her resignation or wondering how she will protect her reputation.
Of course I don't expect that. And sure enough, the press is shying away from the issue.

At the most they're saying they're concerened what the public thinks of the legal system because of Mazuz's dismissal of the state, rather than being concerned what we think of our newly appointed Supreme Court justice and the cronies who campaigned for years to get here there.

[sharonbn]

First of all, I don't know how you can say that the press is "shying away from the issue". Maybe we're listening to different radio stations. Army radio yesterday devoted two hours to reporting, commentaries and interviews on the matter. They interviewed minister of justice Lapid, asking him if Arbel's appointment would be reversed. They pressed him so hard for an answer that he actually lost his temper on live interview.

This morning Razi Barkai interviewed David Appel's attorney and Haaretz reporter about the media coverage. As I write these lines, Avigdor Lieberman is interviewed.

Ynet and Haaretz also dedicated their headlines to the issue and included commentaries. Its hard to see how the press could deal with this less. You may wish to see even more headlines, but it is a far far cry from stating that the press is shying away from the issue.

Second, the issue is far from being closed. The movement for anti corruption today filed petition to the supreme court against Mazuz's decision.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/439814.html

Also, it seems the public is split on the decision to close the case. Ynet reports a survey conducted yesterday indicates that 46% of the public believe Arbel was right in recommending that Sharon should be trailed, vs 38% who believe she was wrong.
At the same time, 44% believe Mazuz was right in closing the case, while 42% believe him to be wrong. Yes, its confusing results, probably because some of the public don't understand the news, but its an indication that the public is split in its opinion on the matter.

[sharonbn]

on a personal note I must say I myself am confused. On one hand, Mazuz's decision seems well backed up, according to reports. otoh, Sharon and his son's behavior throughout the police investigation was as if the thief's hat is burning on their heads (as we say in Hebrew :)) they "took the fifth" throughout hours of investigation and refused to hand out evidence. I don't say that proves anything, I just say it looks suspicious.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Originally posted by sharonbn
First of all, I don't know how you can say that the press is "shying away from the issue".
By the "issue", I mean Arbel's follies - her failures and blunders in 99% of the big cases that she's handled over the last decade. We can also go into what her underling's in the DA's Tel Aviv office have done during the past year as well. An this lady sits on the Supreme Court - what a farce!

Last night's TV news (Channel 2, I think), was pathetic.
Maybe we're listening to different radio stations. Army radio yesterday devoted two hours to reporting, commentaries and interviews on the matter. Today, Razi Barkai interviewed David Appel's attorney and Haaretz reporter about the media coverage.

Ynet and Haaretz also dedicated their headlines to the issue and included commentaries.
Ha'Aretz's editorial (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/439572.html) is neutral, to the point of being boring. It draws zero conclusions, other than what the straight news reports tell us. Starnge for an editioral.

And all Gideon Samet can rave about (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/439552.html) is his love for pork. The name "Arbel" is not to be found in his commentary. Instead, he takes a few mild jabs at Mazuz for not giving us "value judgements". For those that don't understand what those are, it means essentially that you can say that someone cannot be indicted but he's a bad person anyway. Former AG loved doing it. Stupid Jews. Put up or shut up.

Second, the issue is far from being closed. The movement for anti corruption today filed petition to the supreme court against Mazuz's decision.
Precisely. Everyone please draw your attention and spotlights to that irresponsible Attorney General at center stage. And never mind that pompous assed lady sitting on the big leather judge's seat in the public gallery.

Also, it seems the public is split on the decision to close the case. Ynet reports a survey conducted yesterday indicates that 46% of the public believe Arbel was right in recommending that Sharon should be trailed, vs 38% who believe she was wrong.
At the same time, 44% believe Mazuz was right in closing the case, while 42% believe him to be wrong. Yes, its confusing results, probably because some of the public don't understand the news, but its an indication that the public is split in its opinion on the matter.
Who cares what the public thinks! Should we take polls on people's medical conditions, too, to assess doctor's professional opinions? This is assinine.

Really stupid Jews.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Unlike Movement for Quality Government, who are only interested in decisions that suit their political preferences, here's how not to shy away from an issue:

Police Complaint Filed Against Justice Arbel (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=64140)
11:00 Jun 16, '04 / 27 Sivan 5764

(IsraelNN.com) In the wake of the decision of Attorney General Menachem Mazouz against charging Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the "Greek Island Affair", Knesset Member Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism) has filed a complaint with police against former State Prosecutor (now Supreme Court Justice) Edna Arbel. Arbel recommended charging Mr. Sharon in the case.

MK Porush demands that the police investigate to discover if "there were inappropriate motives for the Prosecutor's Office recommendation to charge Prime Minister Ariel Sharon."

[sharonbn]

Originally posted by Oh Jerusalem
Ha'Aretz's editorial (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/439572.html) is neutral, to the point of being boring. It draws zero conclusions, other than what the straight news reports tell us. Starnge for an editioral.

And all Gideon Samet can rave about (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/439552.html) is his love for pork. The name "Arbel" is not to be found in his commentary. Instead, he takes a few mild jabs at Mazuz for not giving us "value judgements". For those that don't understand what those are, it means essentially that you can say that someone cannot be indicted but he's a bad person anyway. Former AG loved doing it. Stupid Jews. Put up or shut up.


Focus / What Mazuz never mentioned
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/439542.html

Background / A lack of blame
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/439526.html

What they write may not be to your liking, but yet again, this is not the picture you tried to draw of the press trying to sweep the affair under the carpet.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Originally posted by sharonbn
Focus / What Mazuz never mentioned
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/439542.html

Background / A lack of blame
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/439526.html

What they write may not be to your liking, but yet again, this is not the picture you tried to draw of the press trying to sweep the affair under the carpet.
The first article doesn't mention Edna Arbel whatsoever. It is totally accusary of Mazuz, making him appear like an idiot who thinks he can openly and blatantly fool an entire country.

The second article actually touches on the subject of Arbel, with the last paragraph showing the author's contempt for Mazuz. Indeed, publicize Arbel's writeup of the case. I would love to see Arbel and Mazuz swing it out in public as to how they reached completely polarized conclusions.

There's hope yet.

[Binyamin]

The affair is the big news item, but the issue of Arbel's behavior is not getting the treatment it deserves.

Army Radio has been asking some questions about Arbel, but they are being relatively easy on that issue. It's nothing close to what they were saying about Sharon during the whole affair.

Channel2, on the other hand, can't get over this disaster. They want to know how the public will respond to the Sharon family's innapropiate relation to Appel? and how people will think of him since the case was only closed due to "insufficinet proof", which means that thre was definately wrongdoing.
They apparently didn't understand that the Sharons' didn't do anything wrong, so what should the public be worried about. They also didn't listen to Mazuz's speech. He made it very clear that there was absolutly no reason to think there was anything problematic here. "Insufficinet proof" was only a legal term. He spent forty minutes going over all the details, and showed there was nothing to talk about.
They also mentioned that some senior legalists have been telling them the whole time that there's no case against Sharon. They never mentioned this until now, while they've been wondering all the time if Sharon can possibly survive. These guys are the worst.

This is also the problem with Arbel. This wasn't a disagreement over technicalities (which is what everyone was expecting). According to Mazuz, the whole thing is a fabrication, and Arbel's opinion cannot be justified.


Also, it seems the public is split on the decision to close the case. Ynet reports a survey conducted yesterday indicates that 46% of the public believe Arbel was right in recommending that Sharon should be trailed, vs 38% who believe she was wrong.
At the same time, 44% believe Mazuz was right in closing the case, while 42% believe him to be wrong. Yes, its confusing results, probably because some of the public don't understand the news, but its an indication that the public is split in its opinion on the matter.
I was sitting next to a Sefardi yesterday, who was very upset about the case being closed. Deri had to sit, and now Sharon should also have to. He clearly didn't care if this was the right decision. I assume that alot of people are either for or against based on similair biases.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Someone refuses to remain silent:

Ex-A-G Ben-Ya'ir seeks ministry probe (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1087891965161&p=1078397702269)
By DAN IZENBERG

Former attorney-general Michael Ben-Ya'ir on Tuesday wrote Justice Minister Yosef Lapid demanding he investigate the conflicting accounts of former state attorney Edna Arbel and himself over the decision to indict former justice minister Yaakov Neeman.

In an interview before she was appointed to the Supreme Court, Arbel told the Judges Selection Committee the decision was a joint one by the two.

Ben-Meir claims Arbel had asked him to stay out of the matter and that his approval of the decision was purely formal.

[RichardP]

Though, I am not well versed in Israel politics, this thread held my attention. I look forward to reading more, and will follow the story with a tad more knowledge. Thanks, Oh Jerusalem… great job working on this thread.

[Oh Jerusalem]

Though, I am not well versed in Israel politics, this thread held my attention. I look forward to reading more, and will follow the story with a tad more knowledge. Thanks, Oh Jerusalem… great job working on this thread.
Just to point out that for the past 2 months, Arbel's name has almost disappeared from the news.

No probes. No conclusions. Just silence.

[sharonbn]

Just to point out that for the past 2 months, Arbel's name has almost disappeared from the news.

No probes. No conclusions. Just silence.

so were the names of Gilad Sharon, Dudi Appel and Liebermann.
that's the nature of the media, regardless of political agenda.

[Oh Jerusalem]

so were the names of Gilad Sharon, Dudi Appel and Liebermann.
that's the nature of the media, regardless of political agenda.
Or the nature of summer vacation. :cool:

[RichardP]

We (Canada) have similar unscrupulous people in our government and the judiciary, as well as agencies. More often than nought the media initially goes into Piranha mode, and then becomes bloated, and settles into a state of complacency, or, in many cases, their agenda has been met… and/or redirected.
I hold little confidence in our media and the media in general. To me, it appears they have their favourites, or untouchables; when covering a story of the former and latter… they find a way of letting the big fish slip off the hook.
As in Israel, Palestinian issues, they, on the most part, if not all, have designated the Pals as the untouchables.
Is this the same in the Arbel case, in Israel?

[Oh Jerusalem]

so were the names of Gilad Sharon, Dudi Appel and Liebermann.
that's the nature of the media, regardless of political agenda.
What a coincidence!

Summer break is over! Start crossing names off your hit list:

High Court Rejects Greek Island Appeal (http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=67608)
12:50 Aug 19, '04 / 2 Elul 5764

(IsraelNN.com) A seven-justice High Court panel rejected a petition seeking to challenge Attorney General Meni Mazuz’s decision not to indict Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in the Greek Island affair. The court ruled 6-1 against the petition.