Olmert’s Corruption Comes Home to Roost?

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Dead Man Walking, By Ari Shavit

Excerpts;

Here is the news: Aliza and Ehud Olmert will be summoned to an investigation in the State Comptroller’s office within a few days.

The prime minister and his wife will be presented with these findings: The price they paid for their new house on 8 Cremieux Street in Jerusalem is lower than its market price by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The difference between the sum they paid – some $1.2 million – and the house’s value – $1.6-1.8 million – is hard to explain. It raises suspicion that the prime minister and his wife illicitly received about half a million dollars. read more

Loss of War in Lebanon Buries “Convergence”?

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MKs: Convergence May be PM’s Undoing By Sheera Claire Frenkel
(Jerusalem Post)

Excerpts;

The convergence plan that served as a cornerstone of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s rise to office may lead to his downfall, members of the coalition said Wednesday.

“If you asked me now what could break up the coalition, I would say convergence,” said a senior Labor minister. “We can’t support a plan which calls for unilateral moves.”

The plan, which calls for a withdrawal from large swaths of the West Bank, allows for a unilateral withdrawal if a “partner” is unavailable for negotiations, said MK Otniel Schneller, the Kadima MK who helped draft the plan. read more

Just What Other Things Was the Planning Director Busy With? Halutz’s Stock Portfolio?

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Peretz Appoints War Inquiry Committee

Excerpt;

“DM Peretz appointed former Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. (res.) Amnon Lipkin-Shahak to head external inquiry commission investigating the IDF’s management and preparation for war in Lebanon. Defending the army, head of the army’s Planning Directorate Maj.-Gen. Yitzhak Harel: “We were prepared. We could have prepared more, but we were busy with other things.”

Commentary;

What “other things” was the IDF PLanning Director busy with on the eve of a war anyway? And how can former Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. (res.) Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, who held OJT Defense Minister Peretz’s hand throughout the war be expected to give unbaised, uncolored judgement as head of the War Inquiry Committee? read more

Thursday War News…

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Lebanese Soldiers Cross Litani River, Begin Deployment in Southern Lebanon

Excerpt;

“Israel Defense Forces said Thursday that it had begun ‘transferring responsibility’ over southern Lebanon with the deployment of the Lebanese army in the area. Hezbollah’s top official in south Lebanon, Sheik Nabil Kaouk, told reporters that ‘…Hezbollah …will not be any visible presence now.”

Enemy Didn’t Know What Hit Him

Excerpt;

“It was one of the most impressive battles in the war. Dozens of terrorists were killed, many weapons – including a 24-head rocket launcher – were destroyed, and not a single IDF soldier was hurt. The ‘Spearhead’ paratroopers reserves brigade succeeded, a moment before the ceasefire, to surprise and strike at Hezbollah.” read more

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Perspectives on the Alledged Halutz Stock Scandal …

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For context, click here.

Analysis: Unworthy of Command? By Yaakov Katz and Anshel Pfeffer (Jerusalem Post)

“He was handpicked by prime minister Ariel Sharon to replace the deposed Moshe Ya’alon and lead the disengagement from Gush Katif and Northern Samaria. Halutz was seen as Sharon’s protege and many believed that after his term as chief, the next stage would be the political scene, perhaps even as Sharon’s successor.”

Excerpts;

Despite severe criticism of the management of the second Lebanon war, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz had been expected to survive with his career intact. Some generals were expected to pay with their heads for a campaign that ended with 118 soldiers dead and failed to achieve any of its original goals, but not Halutz. read more

What Bureaucratic Obstacles Will the Regime Place in the Way of Northern Claimants?

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For context regarding the Gush Katif refugees, click here,
here and here. There are are many other citings. To view them all, click here.

Tax Authority Launches Compensation Administration for Northern Residents

Excerpts;

“To date, over 8,000 claims for property damage caused by Hizbullah rockets have been submitted to the Tax Authority. 6,000 claims have been submitted for indirect damage to trade, services, industry, hotels and agriculture. The Tax Authority estimated that 90,000 claims in total for indirect war damage would be filed.” read more

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Olmert Behaves (Almost) Like A Mensch in Encore Welcome to Olim …

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520 Olim Arrive from US, UK, Canada

Excerpts;

520 new immigrants from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom arrived on three flights sponsored by Nefesh B’Nefesh and the Jewish Agency Wednesday morning and were welcomed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and agency Chairman Ze’ev Bielski.

Olmert’s decision to greet the newcomers showed the “great importance” he placed on their arrival, a spokesman from his office said.

Jewish Agency spokesman Michael Jankelowitz praised the olim who arrived during the 35 days of violence, saying many of them had decided to make aliya two years ago, during the worst days of the second intifada. read more

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Wednesday War News…

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IDF Killed Hizbullah Leader Just Before Cease-Fire

Excerpt;

“IDF troops killed Hizbullah Special Forces head Sajad Dawir just a few hours before the cease-fire went into effect on Monday morning.”

Tank Hits Not as Bad as it Seemed

Excerpt;

“OC Armored Corps Brig.-Gen. Halutsi Rudoy revealed Tuesday that out of the almost 400 tanks that operated in Lebanon, only a few dozen were hit by antitank missiles and only 20 were actually penetrated.”

Lebanon: ‘No Need to Disarm Hezbollah’ read more

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Parsha Re’eh 5766 — Collective Responsibility for Our Brethren and for Eretz Yisrael — Revisited.

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Parsha Re’eh 5766 — Collective Responsibility for Our Brethren & for Eretz Yisrael — Revisited.

By, Moshe Burt

Parsha Re’eh begins with the B’nai Yisrael assembled on Mount Gerizim and Mount Eval. Moshe Rabbeinu continues his mussar saying, “Behold, I set before you … a blessing and a curse; the blessing if you heed the commandments of Hashem, and the curse, if you will not observe his commandments.(Sefer Devarim, Perek 11, posukim 26-27) read more

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Rank’s Privilege: I Will Beat The War Crash, To Heck With Everybody Else?

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Halutz Sold Investments After Kidnapping

Excerpts;

Several hours after the kidnapping of two IDF soldiers on the northern border and in the midst of discussions over whether to launch a major military operation in Lebanon, the chief of staff, Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz, decided to sell off his personal investment portfolio, Maariv reported Tuesday morning.

According to the report, Halutz spoke to his investment broker at Bank Leumi about three hours after Hizbullah’s cross-border raid, and instructed him to sell all the assets in his portfolio, valued at about NIS 120,000. read more