 |
||
 |
        |
 |
|
||
| MP3 Radio | Website News Briefs: | |||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
 |
 |
1. 'Only a Miracle Can Save Daniel'
by Gil Ronen
The condition of Daniel Viflic, 16, who was wounded when Gaza terrorists fired an anti-tank missile at a school bus he was in, has taken a turn for the worse. He has been in critical condition since the attack Thursday, which ministers have termed "barbaric."
His family asks the public to pray for his health. His full name is Raphael Daniel Aryeh ben Tamar . Daniel is a student at a yeshiva in Beit Shemesh where there are round-the-clock prayers for his recovery since the attack.
David Vazana, who was close to Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Z"tzl, told Arutz Sheva Tuesday morning that Daniel "needs much mercy from Heaven."
"The situation is very critical and only a miracle will make him stronger. I was asked to conduct a kapparot ceremony as the Rishon LeTzion, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Z"tzl, instructed in the past in similar cases."
An additional kapparot ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday.
Rabbi Vazana also asked the public to pray for Raphael Daniel Aryeh ben Tamar, and also for Odelia bat Nechama who was wounded in the latest Jerusalem terror attack.
Comment on this story
by Gil Ronen
The condition of Daniel Viflic, 16, who was wounded when Gaza terrorists fired an anti-tank missile at a school bus he was in, has taken a turn for the worse. He has been in critical condition since the attack Thursday, which ministers have termed "barbaric."
His family asks the public to pray for his health. His full name is Raphael Daniel Aryeh ben Tamar . Daniel is a student at a yeshiva in Beit Shemesh where there are round-the-clock prayers for his recovery since the attack.
David Vazana, who was close to Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Z"tzl, told Arutz Sheva Tuesday morning that Daniel "needs much mercy from Heaven."
"The situation is very critical and only a miracle will make him stronger. I was asked to conduct a kapparot ceremony as the Rishon LeTzion, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu Z"tzl, instructed in the past in similar cases."
An additional kapparot ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday.
Rabbi Vazana also asked the public to pray for Raphael Daniel Aryeh ben Tamar, and also for Odelia bat Nechama who was wounded in the latest Jerusalem terror attack.
Comment on this story
2. Breakthrough on Fogel Massacre Case 'Imminent'
by Gil Ronen
Elements within the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) are convinced that they are close to a meaningful breakthrough in the investigation of the horrific slaying of the Fogel family in Itamar. They are convinced that the killer and his accomplices did indeed come from the village of Awarta near Itamar, Israel's Channel 2 news reported.
According to the report, in the course of the last week, security forces collected hundreds of DNA samples and fingerprints from residents, including dozens of women.
The IDF Central Command has belatedly placed a new fence around Itamar. The investigation of the Fogel massacre found that the terrorist succeeded in cutting the fence surrounding the community in order to infiltrate it. The new fence is also supposed to minimize the number of false alarms.
Bushes and trees that interfered with the community's guards' ability to observe the area surrounding it have been cleared. Orders to security squads have been refreshed.
The IDF steps come too late for the Fogel family.
Comment on this story
by Gil Ronen
Elements within the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) are convinced that they are close to a meaningful breakthrough in the investigation of the horrific slaying of the Fogel family in Itamar. They are convinced that the killer and his accomplices did indeed come from the village of Awarta near Itamar, Israel's Channel 2 news reported.
According to the report, in the course of the last week, security forces collected hundreds of DNA samples and fingerprints from residents, including dozens of women.
The IDF Central Command has belatedly placed a new fence around Itamar. The investigation of the Fogel massacre found that the terrorist succeeded in cutting the fence surrounding the community in order to infiltrate it. The new fence is also supposed to minimize the number of false alarms.
Bushes and trees that interfered with the community's guards' ability to observe the area surrounding it have been cleared. Orders to security squads have been refreshed.
The IDF steps come too late for the Fogel family.
Comment on this story
3. Is Netanyahu 'Considering' More Retreats in Judea and Samaria?
by Gil Ronen
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is considering plans to hand over more territory to the Palestinian Authority, according to the ultra-left newspaper Haaretz and News1 and brought by the Hebrew Arutz Sheva..
The newspaper says that as part of the concessions Netanyahu is considering, "there will be a redeployment of IDF forces and more security control will be given to the Palestinian Authority. Parts of Areas B, in which Israel has security authority and the Palestinians only have civil authorities, will be handed over to full control of the [Palestinian] Authority."
In addition, "parts of Areas C, in which Israel has full control, will turn into Areas B."
The idea has already been floated by the Prime Minister's adviser, Yitzchak Molcho, in a meeting with the Quartet representatives in Jerusalem last week.
Netanyahu also plans to initiate an international conference with the participation of Israel and the PA.
According to the above sources, all these concessions are being considered in order to stave off the planned United Nations vote on the establishment of an independent PA state, in September.
The Yesha Council of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria reacted Tuesday to the report by saying, "Instead of behaving in a level-headed and intelligent way, Israel is sending out signals of panic. This panic is a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Arabs and the international community smell it and, in response, increase the pressure and so forth."
The council statement continued, "In these days, when the south is absorbing the missiles of the previous withdrawal, it's amazing that someone is talking about an additional withdrawal. The correct course is to make it very clear that a unilateral Palestinian step will be answered by our unilateral steps, such as the application of sovereignty on Judea and Samaria or parts of it while activating the levers of political, economic, military and other pressure that the state of Israel has. This is the correct answer and not further concessions."
Comment on this story
by Gil Ronen
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is considering plans to hand over more territory to the Palestinian Authority, according to the ultra-left newspaper Haaretz and News1 and brought by the Hebrew Arutz Sheva..
The newspaper says that as part of the concessions Netanyahu is considering, "there will be a redeployment of IDF forces and more security control will be given to the Palestinian Authority. Parts of Areas B, in which Israel has security authority and the Palestinians only have civil authorities, will be handed over to full control of the [Palestinian] Authority."
In addition, "parts of Areas C, in which Israel has full control, will turn into Areas B."
The idea has already been floated by the Prime Minister's adviser, Yitzchak Molcho, in a meeting with the Quartet representatives in Jerusalem last week.
Netanyahu also plans to initiate an international conference with the participation of Israel and the PA.
According to the above sources, all these concessions are being considered in order to stave off the planned United Nations vote on the establishment of an independent PA state, in September.
The Yesha Council of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria reacted Tuesday to the report by saying, "Instead of behaving in a level-headed and intelligent way, Israel is sending out signals of panic. This panic is a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Arabs and the international community smell it and, in response, increase the pressure and so forth."
The council statement continued, "In these days, when the south is absorbing the missiles of the previous withdrawal, it's amazing that someone is talking about an additional withdrawal. The correct course is to make it very clear that a unilateral Palestinian step will be answered by our unilateral steps, such as the application of sovereignty on Judea and Samaria or parts of it while activating the levers of political, economic, military and other pressure that the state of Israel has. This is the correct answer and not further concessions."
Comment on this story
4. Near-Complete Media Blackout on NIF-Judge Scandal
by Gil Ronen
The Israeli press is enforcing a self-imposed blackout on the case of Judge Ruth Ronen, who made a highly problematic political decision in a case without disclosing a personal conflict of interest connected to the New Israel Fund. Besides Maariv, which published the story on its front page Monday, no Hebrew publication seems to have picked it up.
Haaretz, Ynetnews and JPost all seem to be willfully ignoring the scandalous story. As far as we can tell, the only English-language news source on the Net to tell its readers about it is Arutz Sheva.
The media blackout on the case appears to be a startling indication of the New Israel Fund's influence on the Israeli press, in what is supposedly a democratic country with a free press.
Perhaps even more ominously, Knesset members, too, appear to be less-than-enthusiastic to touch the story. Only MK Michael Ben-Ari of the National Union acted upon it and wrote a letter to the Minister of Justice and Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch, demanding Ronen's suspension.
Maariv journalist Ben-Dror Yemini revealed that Ronen ruled in favor of a motion by extreme-leftist group Gisha, and ordered the State to reveal an internal document that deals with the supply of food to Gaza, as well as the names of the people who authored it. The document spells out the minimal nutritional level of the residents of Gaza that needs to be maintained - despite the fact that Israel is not responsible for Gazans' level of nutrition. It could presumably be used to tarnish Israel's image abroad.
Ronen should have recused herself from the case from the outset, Yemini explained, because her husband, Ze'ev Bergman, is a member of the board of the New Israel Fund, which supported Gisha directly in the past and continues to support it through Shatil, the NIF's operative arm.
Judge Ronen accepted Gisha's motion based on the Freedom of Information Law even though it specifies that the State does not have to supply information that could "hurt the State's security, its foreign relations and the security of the public."
Critics of the New Israel Fund say it systematically assists Israel's enemies and note that it works in partnership with the Ford Foundation. The Ford Foundation was founded by the son of Henry Ford, who was known for his anti-Jewish stances in the 1920s.
Comment on this story
by Gil Ronen
The Israeli press is enforcing a self-imposed blackout on the case of Judge Ruth Ronen, who made a highly problematic political decision in a case without disclosing a personal conflict of interest connected to the New Israel Fund. Besides Maariv, which published the story on its front page Monday, no Hebrew publication seems to have picked it up.
Haaretz, Ynetnews and JPost all seem to be willfully ignoring the scandalous story. As far as we can tell, the only English-language news source on the Net to tell its readers about it is Arutz Sheva.
The media blackout on the case appears to be a startling indication of the New Israel Fund's influence on the Israeli press, in what is supposedly a democratic country with a free press.
Perhaps even more ominously, Knesset members, too, appear to be less-than-enthusiastic to touch the story. Only MK Michael Ben-Ari of the National Union acted upon it and wrote a letter to the Minister of Justice and Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch, demanding Ronen's suspension.
Maariv journalist Ben-Dror Yemini revealed that Ronen ruled in favor of a motion by extreme-leftist group Gisha, and ordered the State to reveal an internal document that deals with the supply of food to Gaza, as well as the names of the people who authored it. The document spells out the minimal nutritional level of the residents of Gaza that needs to be maintained - despite the fact that Israel is not responsible for Gazans' level of nutrition. It could presumably be used to tarnish Israel's image abroad.
Ronen should have recused herself from the case from the outset, Yemini explained, because her husband, Ze'ev Bergman, is a member of the board of the New Israel Fund, which supported Gisha directly in the past and continues to support it through Shatil, the NIF's operative arm.
Judge Ronen accepted Gisha's motion based on the Freedom of Information Law even though it specifies that the State does not have to supply information that could "hurt the State's security, its foreign relations and the security of the public."
Critics of the New Israel Fund say it systematically assists Israel's enemies and note that it works in partnership with the Ford Foundation. The Ford Foundation was founded by the son of Henry Ford, who was known for his anti-Jewish stances in the 1920s.
Comment on this story
5. Netanyahu: Deal for Shalit Must Not Endanger Israelis
by Gil Ronen
The Prime Minister's Office replied Tuesday to statements made by six former high-ranking security officials who urged him to cave in to Hamas's demands for the release of Sgt. Gilad Shalit. The six - former Shin Bet heads Ami Ayalon, Karmi Gilon and Yaakov Perry, former Mossad head Danny Yatom, retired police major-general Alik Ron and Yom Kippur War hero Brig.-Gen. (res.) Avigdor Kahalani - held a news conference in which they urged Netanyahu to include terrorist murderers in the deal.
"The actions to bring First Sgt. Gilad Shalit home safe and sound continue all the while," the PMO said. "It has been more than a year since Israel presented Hamas with its latest offer in the negotiations, but Hamas has yet to respond to this offer. This shows that the other side has no intention of successfully concluding the negotiations."
"Beside the great commitment to bring Gilad back quickly, the Prime Minister is also responsible for the security and safety of all the citizens of Israel."
"Past experience teaches us that dozens of Israelis were murdered in terror attacks perpetrated by terrorists who were freed in previous deals, such as the Jibril deal and the Tenenbaum deal. The Prime Minister insists adamantly that any deal reached not endanger the citizens of Israel."
The six former security officilas told reporters that a military operation to free Shalit is not possible and that Israel will be able to withstand the aftermath of a deal for Shalit.
Elchanan Tenenbaum, who was abducted by Hizbullah after entering Lebanon for a drug deal and later freed in return for 435 terrorists, told IDF Radio Tuesday that Israel should accept Hamas's demands for freeing Shalit. He noted that he had been held for three years in a room with no window, alone, and with the light on all the time.
Almagor, a terror victims' organization, called on Netanyahu to ignore the news conference by the former defense officials. "These people failed in the past in freeing terrorists and with other wrongheaded security conceptions, which brought terror to monstrous proportions. They should not tell us what to do now. The blood price of terrorist releases is known and it would be sheer wanton recklessness to give in to Hamas."
Comment on this story
by Gil Ronen
The Prime Minister's Office replied Tuesday to statements made by six former high-ranking security officials who urged him to cave in to Hamas's demands for the release of Sgt. Gilad Shalit. The six - former Shin Bet heads Ami Ayalon, Karmi Gilon and Yaakov Perry, former Mossad head Danny Yatom, retired police major-general Alik Ron and Yom Kippur War hero Brig.-Gen. (res.) Avigdor Kahalani - held a news conference in which they urged Netanyahu to include terrorist murderers in the deal.
"The actions to bring First Sgt. Gilad Shalit home safe and sound continue all the while," the PMO said. "It has been more than a year since Israel presented Hamas with its latest offer in the negotiations, but Hamas has yet to respond to this offer. This shows that the other side has no intention of successfully concluding the negotiations."
"Beside the great commitment to bring Gilad back quickly, the Prime Minister is also responsible for the security and safety of all the citizens of Israel."
"Past experience teaches us that dozens of Israelis were murdered in terror attacks perpetrated by terrorists who were freed in previous deals, such as the Jibril deal and the Tenenbaum deal. The Prime Minister insists adamantly that any deal reached not endanger the citizens of Israel."
The six former security officilas told reporters that a military operation to free Shalit is not possible and that Israel will be able to withstand the aftermath of a deal for Shalit.
Elchanan Tenenbaum, who was abducted by Hizbullah after entering Lebanon for a drug deal and later freed in return for 435 terrorists, told IDF Radio Tuesday that Israel should accept Hamas's demands for freeing Shalit. He noted that he had been held for three years in a room with no window, alone, and with the light on all the time.
Almagor, a terror victims' organization, called on Netanyahu to ignore the news conference by the former defense officials. "These people failed in the past in freeing terrorists and with other wrongheaded security conceptions, which brought terror to monstrous proportions. They should not tell us what to do now. The blood price of terrorist releases is known and it would be sheer wanton recklessness to give in to Hamas."
Comment on this story
6. Samaria Woman Survives Road Ambush
by Gil Ronen
Malkah Mahon of Maaleh Levona in Samaria was the victim of an apparent attempt to murder her Sunday afternoon.
She had just driven out of Maaleh Levona and began heading toward Ariel, to see her son, when she encountered a vehicle with Palestinian Authority license plates apparently trying to carry out a U-turn in a bend in the road. Two Arabs were standing outside the vehicle. They motioned to her, inviting her to drive past them.
Something seemed wrong, however, and Malkah decided to wait for the vehicle to complete its U-turn.
At that point the two Arabs approached her vehicle and tried to clamber onto it. "I started driving and they started pelting me with rocks and at the same time, the Palestinian car started ramming me several times and tried to knock me off the road," she told Arutz Sheva.
Mahon managed to drive away and to press the distress button in her car. The IDF contacted her and asked her to drive to Eli, where she underwent initial IDF questioning about the event. A representative of the Judea and Samaria police was also present.
The attackers apparently fled to the nearby village of Sinjel.
Mahon's late son, Evyatar, escaped an attempted abduction at Eli Junction on 2007, and his presence of mind and courage helped security forces arrest the three Hamas terrorists who attacked him. He was killed in a traffic accident a short time later, at age 17.5, on his way back from a trip in the Golan Heights.
Residents of Maaleh Levona noted that this is not the first time that Arabs attempted an ambush against the community's inhabitants. Not long ago, a terrorist dressed as a haredi Jew tried to abduct a woman but a malfunction in his car foiled the attempt.
Judea and Samaria Police spokesman Gil Elhadad told Arutz Sheva that the attack was "very grave" and that "serious" efforts are being made to locate the suspects.
Comment on this story
by Gil Ronen
Malkah Mahon of Maaleh Levona in Samaria was the victim of an apparent attempt to murder her Sunday afternoon.
She had just driven out of Maaleh Levona and began heading toward Ariel, to see her son, when she encountered a vehicle with Palestinian Authority license plates apparently trying to carry out a U-turn in a bend in the road. Two Arabs were standing outside the vehicle. They motioned to her, inviting her to drive past them.
Something seemed wrong, however, and Malkah decided to wait for the vehicle to complete its U-turn.
At that point the two Arabs approached her vehicle and tried to clamber onto it. "I started driving and they started pelting me with rocks and at the same time, the Palestinian car started ramming me several times and tried to knock me off the road," she told Arutz Sheva.
Mahon managed to drive away and to press the distress button in her car. The IDF contacted her and asked her to drive to Eli, where she underwent initial IDF questioning about the event. A representative of the Judea and Samaria police was also present.
The attackers apparently fled to the nearby village of Sinjel.
Mahon's late son, Evyatar, escaped an attempted abduction at Eli Junction on 2007, and his presence of mind and courage helped security forces arrest the three Hamas terrorists who attacked him. He was killed in a traffic accident a short time later, at age 17.5, on his way back from a trip in the Golan Heights.
Residents of Maaleh Levona noted that this is not the first time that Arabs attempted an ambush against the community's inhabitants. Not long ago, a terrorist dressed as a haredi Jew tried to abduct a woman but a malfunction in his car foiled the attempt.
Judea and Samaria Police spokesman Gil Elhadad told Arutz Sheva that the attack was "very grave" and that "serious" efforts are being made to locate the suspects.
Comment on this story
7. UN Recognizes Hamas-Supporting Organization
by Elad Benari
The UN has given special recognition to an organization which supports the Hamas terrorist groups and which has been involved in organizing flotillas to Gaza, the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) has reported.
The organization in question is the Free Palestine Movement (FPM), a California-based leftist organization whose stated mission, according to its website, is “to challenge Israeli policies and actions that deny Palestinians their human rights, and in particular the right of unfettered access to all of Palestine. We adhere to the principles of non-violence in direct actions that exercise Palestinian rights in defiance of restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities. We partner with other organizations in projects that are consistent with our mission statement and points of unity.”
FPM is headed by Dr. Paul Larudee, an activist who in 2006 was arrested and deported from Israel after he entered the country under a false identity to work with Hamas and then went to Lebanon to assist Hizbullah during the Second Lebanon War.
Larudee broke the naval blockade on Gaza and entered the region in 2008, and also took part in the 2010 flotilla as well, having been on board the Sfendoni 8000 boat.
In 2009, Larudee received an award for his work from Hamas’ Prime Minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh.
According to the report by ITIC, Larudee received a letter from a United Nations committee which deals with the realization of Palestinian rights. The letter stated that his request for recognition (accreditation) had been granted. The letter also stated that FPM was recognized as an NGO acting as a “civil society organization” to promote the Palestinian cause.
ITIC added that following the UN recognition, FPM changed its logo, adding the sentence “A United Nations Accredited NGO”. ITIC assessed the UN recognition as giving legitimacy to the projects carried out by FPM, especially the flotillas it organizes. The report added that the UN’s recognition letter ended with offering congratulations on the organization’s activities, which the letter claims are for the purpose of achieving “a just solution to the Palestinian problem.”
ITIC also notes that Larudee has previously written an article in which he expressed support and understanding of the motives of suicide bombers. The report adds that Larudee spent large amounts of time in the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria between 2002 and 2003, as part of the activities of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), another extremist anti-Israel group which seeks to destroy Israel and with which Larudee works. The award from Hamas PM Haniyeh was given to Larudee in 2009 when he stayed in Gaza, notes the report.
Comment on this story
by Elad Benari
The UN has given special recognition to an organization which supports the Hamas terrorist groups and which has been involved in organizing flotillas to Gaza, the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) has reported.
The organization in question is the Free Palestine Movement (FPM), a California-based leftist organization whose stated mission, according to its website, is “to challenge Israeli policies and actions that deny Palestinians their human rights, and in particular the right of unfettered access to all of Palestine. We adhere to the principles of non-violence in direct actions that exercise Palestinian rights in defiance of restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities. We partner with other organizations in projects that are consistent with our mission statement and points of unity.”
FPM is headed by Dr. Paul Larudee, an activist who in 2006 was arrested and deported from Israel after he entered the country under a false identity to work with Hamas and then went to Lebanon to assist Hizbullah during the Second Lebanon War.
Larudee broke the naval blockade on Gaza and entered the region in 2008, and also took part in the 2010 flotilla as well, having been on board the Sfendoni 8000 boat.
In 2009, Larudee received an award for his work from Hamas’ Prime Minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh.
According to the report by ITIC, Larudee received a letter from a United Nations committee which deals with the realization of Palestinian rights. The letter stated that his request for recognition (accreditation) had been granted. The letter also stated that FPM was recognized as an NGO acting as a “civil society organization” to promote the Palestinian cause.
ITIC added that following the UN recognition, FPM changed its logo, adding the sentence “A United Nations Accredited NGO”. ITIC assessed the UN recognition as giving legitimacy to the projects carried out by FPM, especially the flotillas it organizes. The report added that the UN’s recognition letter ended with offering congratulations on the organization’s activities, which the letter claims are for the purpose of achieving “a just solution to the Palestinian problem.”
ITIC also notes that Larudee has previously written an article in which he expressed support and understanding of the motives of suicide bombers. The report adds that Larudee spent large amounts of time in the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria between 2002 and 2003, as part of the activities of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), another extremist anti-Israel group which seeks to destroy Israel and with which Larudee works. The award from Hamas PM Haniyeh was given to Larudee in 2009 when he stayed in Gaza, notes the report.
Comment on this story
8. Video of Protests Outside Israel Embassy in Cairo
by Gil Ronen
Egyptian bloggers have uploaded videos of the protest Friday outside Israel's embassy in Cairo. Meanwhile, former president Hosni Mubarak has addressed Egyptians for the first time since he was overthrown.
The videos show a demonstration that begins at twilight and continues into the evening, with hundreds of participants shouting slogans and some holding a poster calling for an "Intifadah" against Israel on May 15.
“They tried to reach the flag on top of the embassy but failed,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told Israel National News Sunday. He added that the incident was not out of the ordinary except for the large number of demonstrators.
However, it was the first time Egyptians have protested so close to the embassy, which effectively was off-limits before the provisional military government replaced Mubarak.
Mubarak denied allegations of personal corruption in a recorded message published on Arabic network Al-Arabiya. The message is his first public announcement since he was deposed February.
Al-Arabiya published audio of the speech (in Arabic) on YouTube and provided the following transcript:
Dear Egyptians, brothers and sisters:
I have felt great pain – and still – due to the unfair campaigns and unjust accusations to which my family and I have been exposed, aiming mainly to endanger my reputation, question my honesty and distort my military and political history during which I exerted great efforts for Egypt and its people, in war and peace.
I preferred to give up my post as a president, placing the interest of the nation and its people over any other interest, and I chose to keep away from the political life, wishing all the best and progress for Egypt and its people within the period ahead.
However, as I have spent my whole life in serving the nation with honesty and integrity, I cannot remain silent in the face of the continual campaigns of defamation and false accusations that aim at ruining the reputation and integrity of my family and me. I have waited these past weeks for the Egyptian public prosecutor to reach the truth from all the countries worldwide that would prove that I don’t have any property or financial assets abroad.
And because I know that the truth should prevail and in order to put an end to all the defamation attempts, I have decided the following:
According to my final financial statement in which I stated that:
1) I do not own any accounts or assets outside Egypt. I agree to sign in any form that would enable the Egyptian public prosecutor to ask the Egyptian Foreign Ministry to contact all the foreign ministries worldwide to inform them of my approval, and my wife’s, to reveal any account that we have abroad since I started my military and political public work until now. This is for the Egyptian people to know that their former president has accounts only in one Egyptian bank, according to what I have mentioned in my final financial statement.
2) I agree to offer any authorizations that would enable the Egyptian public prosecutor – through the Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s contacts with foreign ministries worldwide – to take all the necessary legal procedures to reveal whether my wife, either of my sons, Alaa or Gamal, and I own any properties or assets directly or indirectly, whether they were commercial or personal, since I started working in the military and political public works and until now, so that everyone would make sure that all the allegations handled by the local and foreign mass media about me and my family’s ownership of huge properties abroad were false.
Accordingly, the applied procedures will reveal that the sources of assets and properties of my sons Alaa and Gamal are far from suspicions of illegal profiteering and power exploitation.
Accordingly and after the concerned authorities confirm what I am saying, I will stick to all my legal rights to have action against everyone who tried to defame my reputation and that of my family whether inside or outside the country.
Brothers and sisters, Egypt will always remain our main goal and wish. We pray for God to save Egypt and its people and show them the right path.
Mubarak and his family are currently under house arrest in Sharm Al-Sheikh. Some bloggers saw the fact that Mubarak chose Saudi-based Al-Arabiya for his address as a sign that Saudi Arabia will help him defend himself against charges of corruption.
Comment on this story
by Gil Ronen
Egyptian bloggers have uploaded videos of the protest Friday outside Israel's embassy in Cairo. Meanwhile, former president Hosni Mubarak has addressed Egyptians for the first time since he was overthrown.
The videos show a demonstration that begins at twilight and continues into the evening, with hundreds of participants shouting slogans and some holding a poster calling for an "Intifadah" against Israel on May 15.
“They tried to reach the flag on top of the embassy but failed,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor told Israel National News Sunday. He added that the incident was not out of the ordinary except for the large number of demonstrators.
However, it was the first time Egyptians have protested so close to the embassy, which effectively was off-limits before the provisional military government replaced Mubarak.
Mubarak denied allegations of personal corruption in a recorded message published on Arabic network Al-Arabiya. The message is his first public announcement since he was deposed February.
Al-Arabiya published audio of the speech (in Arabic) on YouTube and provided the following transcript:
Dear Egyptians, brothers and sisters:
I have felt great pain – and still – due to the unfair campaigns and unjust accusations to which my family and I have been exposed, aiming mainly to endanger my reputation, question my honesty and distort my military and political history during which I exerted great efforts for Egypt and its people, in war and peace.
I preferred to give up my post as a president, placing the interest of the nation and its people over any other interest, and I chose to keep away from the political life, wishing all the best and progress for Egypt and its people within the period ahead.
However, as I have spent my whole life in serving the nation with honesty and integrity, I cannot remain silent in the face of the continual campaigns of defamation and false accusations that aim at ruining the reputation and integrity of my family and me. I have waited these past weeks for the Egyptian public prosecutor to reach the truth from all the countries worldwide that would prove that I don’t have any property or financial assets abroad.
And because I know that the truth should prevail and in order to put an end to all the defamation attempts, I have decided the following:
According to my final financial statement in which I stated that:
1) I do not own any accounts or assets outside Egypt. I agree to sign in any form that would enable the Egyptian public prosecutor to ask the Egyptian Foreign Ministry to contact all the foreign ministries worldwide to inform them of my approval, and my wife’s, to reveal any account that we have abroad since I started my military and political public work until now. This is for the Egyptian people to know that their former president has accounts only in one Egyptian bank, according to what I have mentioned in my final financial statement.
2) I agree to offer any authorizations that would enable the Egyptian public prosecutor – through the Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s contacts with foreign ministries worldwide – to take all the necessary legal procedures to reveal whether my wife, either of my sons, Alaa or Gamal, and I own any properties or assets directly or indirectly, whether they were commercial or personal, since I started working in the military and political public works and until now, so that everyone would make sure that all the allegations handled by the local and foreign mass media about me and my family’s ownership of huge properties abroad were false.
Accordingly, the applied procedures will reveal that the sources of assets and properties of my sons Alaa and Gamal are far from suspicions of illegal profiteering and power exploitation.
Accordingly and after the concerned authorities confirm what I am saying, I will stick to all my legal rights to have action against everyone who tried to defame my reputation and that of my family whether inside or outside the country.
Brothers and sisters, Egypt will always remain our main goal and wish. We pray for God to save Egypt and its people and show them the right path.
Mubarak and his family are currently under house arrest in Sharm Al-Sheikh. Some bloggers saw the fact that Mubarak chose Saudi-based Al-Arabiya for his address as a sign that Saudi Arabia will help him defend himself against charges of corruption.
Comment on this story
More Website News:
 |
Fukushima Upgraded to Chernobyl Status  |
|
Bidding War Ends with Victories for Xfone and Mirs |
|
Muslims see French Anti-Burqa Law as Veiled Threat |
|
MK Amir Peretz Counts on Sephardi Support and Voter Amnesia |
|
Buyer of IDF Chametz is a No-Show |
