Comments on: Olmert Agonistes http://southjerusalem.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/olmert-agonistes/ A Progressive, Skeptical Blog on Israel, Judaism, Culture, Politics, and Literature Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:02:45 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Y. Ben-David http://southjerusalem.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/olmert-agonistes/#comment-695 Y. Ben-David Sun, 01 Jun 2008 10:03:10 +0000 http://southjerusalem.wordpress.com/?p=161#comment-695 Mr Burns What I am advocating is that the investigation be conducted behind closed doors without endless leaks to the media. If you were a public figure and being investigated like Israeli public officials, do you think that your rights were being protected? Of course, not. These investigations are simple political harrassment. (I am not saying that Olmert is innocent or guilty). Investigations of public officials are POLITICALLY motivated....basically saying "get something on him", not a "pursuit of justice". Mr Burns

What I am advocating is that the investigation be conducted behind closed doors without endless leaks to the media. If you were a public figure and being investigated like Israeli public officials, do you think that your rights were being protected? Of course, not. These investigations are simple political harrassment. (I am not saying that Olmert is innocent or guilty). Investigations of public officials are POLITICALLY motivated….basically saying “get something on him”, not a “pursuit of justice”.

]]> By: Livni Calls for New Elections | Tikun Olam-תקון עולם: Make the World a Better Place http://southjerusalem.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/olmert-agonistes/#comment-686 Livni Calls for New Elections | Tikun Olam-תקון עולם: Make the World a Better Place Fri, 30 May 2008 08:06:28 +0000 http://southjerusalem.wordpress.com/?p=161#comment-686 [...] Watzman of South Jerusalem believes that Bibi will be Israel’s next prime minister.  He may be right thought I  hope to God he’s not.  I think that if Olmert will step aside [...] [...] Watzman of South Jerusalem believes that Bibi will be Israel’s next prime minister.  He may be right thought I  hope to God he’s not.  I think that if Olmert will step aside [...]

]]> By: William Burns http://southjerusalem.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/olmert-agonistes/#comment-680 William Burns Thu, 29 May 2008 15:33:01 +0000 http://southjerusalem.wordpress.com/?p=161#comment-680 Shorter Y. Ben David: Corruption is a real problem, but let's not do anything about it. Shorter Y. Ben David: Corruption is a real problem, but let’s not do anything about it.

]]> By: Y. Ben-David http://southjerusalem.wordpress.com/2008/05/28/olmert-agonistes/#comment-677 Y. Ben-David Thu, 29 May 2008 03:07:09 +0000 http://southjerusalem.wordpress.com/?p=161#comment-677 As I stated before, I despise Olmert for many of the reasons that Haim likes him, BECAUSE he betrayed the Likud, because he betrayed Gush Katif, because he sent the police to beat senseless harmless Jewish kids who were carrying out a sit-down strike to save Amona (his spin-meisters told him it would look good to the public to show he is "tough" against the "national pariah" Judea/Samaria settlers but it actually backfired). Having said this, this Talansky business is nothing more than a legal lynching. The fact is all the top Israeli politicians do this. Yesterday, Ehud Barak claimed he was appalled, yet he did the same thing, but being on the "correct side" of the "rule of law mafia" (Haim Ramon's term) he was never charged or seriously investigated. It has gotten to the point that this mafia can overturn parliamentary gov't in Israel. The charges don't even have to be proven to be true (like in Katsav's case), they will blacken the poltician's name without any chance to clear himself. Of course, norms of political behavior need to be tightened up, but this mafia has gone beyond any reasonable limits. As I stated before, I despise Olmert for many of the reasons that Haim likes him, BECAUSE he betrayed the Likud, because he betrayed Gush Katif, because he sent the police to beat senseless harmless Jewish kids who were carrying out a sit-down strike to save Amona (his spin-meisters told him it would look good to the public to show he is “tough” against the “national pariah” Judea/Samaria settlers but it actually backfired). Having said this, this Talansky business is nothing more than a legal lynching. The fact is all the top Israeli politicians do this. Yesterday, Ehud Barak claimed he was appalled, yet he did the same thing, but being on the “correct side” of the “rule of law mafia” (Haim Ramon’s term) he was never charged or seriously investigated. It has gotten to the point that this mafia can overturn parliamentary gov’t in Israel. The charges don’t even have to be proven to be true (like in Katsav’s case), they will blacken the poltician’s name without any chance to clear himself. Of course, norms of political behavior need to be tightened up, but this mafia has gone beyond any reasonable limits.

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