Lexi Thomas' Israel Blog: May 2011

This article is about a Haifa resident, Meir Korner, nearly at record age, who received reconstructive surgery. The 109-year-old developed skin cancer on one side of his nose. Plastic surgeons at Rambam Medical Center were able to create a "new" nose from skin off his forehead. Korner has followed almost every good example to stay healthy as you grow older, besides not exposing yourself to too much sunlight. A few months ago, Korner noticed somewhat of a skin infection on his nose, and went in to the doctor. They then removed a malignant skin tumor on his nose in early May. The procedure of removing a portion of skin from his forehead, and re-sewing it also was a bonus for Korner; it stretched out the wrinkles, actually making him look younger. Doctors reported that the whole operation for Korner turned out really well, although it was not such a simple one. Yitzhak Ramon, the practicing surgeon, stated that only after a few days did Korner's nose return to normalcy, just like before the cancer. Korner, who was born in 1901, stated that he could not wait to go swimming in the Mediterranean after his nose completely healed. “I feel good. I give credit to the Rambam doctors and to the fact that I do things I love. In my conversations with God, He promised me I would have many more years on this earth. The moment I can go to the beach, I will, but with protection against the sun.” says Korner.

First of all, I can't believe this man is 109! I couldn't imagine living another 93 years! This story is just one of those pure happy stories; no sadness, only besides the fact he had a malignant skin tumor, but even that turned out okay. If I ever live to be that old, I want to be just like him. He's always up and about, and staying healthy... well as healthy as a 109-year-old can be! I was glad to find an article like this where is no violence or disgusting incidences.

http://www.jpost.com/Health/Article.aspx?id=222099

Hepatitis C Sufferer Charged with Sodomizing Youths

This article is about Yair Shir Menajem, a 47-year-old Jerusalem resident who, on Monday, was charged in the Jerusalem District Court with "sodomizing and carrying out indecent acts on several minors over recent years." These offenses began occurring sometime between 1995 and 1996 when the suspect would visit his parents' home and began to sexually abuse an eight-year-old neighbor boy, and have continued for the 15 years since. The charge sheet on the suspect read that Menajem was accused of exploitation of young, vulnerable youths. Menajem denied all charges of which he was accused. As far as the eight-year-old boy, the Menajem knew that the boy's grandparents had recently passed away and that he was very emotionally attached to them, and he used that to exploit him immensely. Menajem told the boy that if he cooperated with him, he could make sure to bring his grandparents to him in his dreams. The boy asked Menajem why his grandparents hadn't yet come, and he promised the boy that this would happen soon. This incident was recorded at the suspect's indictment, along with many others which were described with extreme graphic details. Prosecutors stated that the boy has needed many years of therapy because of Menajem. "In 2001, Menajem attended a yeshiva for youths. Prosecutors said he forced oral sex on a teenager after luring him back to his home with a promise of curing him from astigmatism." Another incident in 2005, Menajem allegedly invited a 13-year-old boy to move in to his home after he fought with his parents. It never stated whether or not this move in actually occurred; during this time Menajem was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. From 2005 to 2007, Menajem had continued to sexually assault minors, many times. Overall, eight minors were allegedly assaulted by Menajem.

I am completely disgusted with people like Menajem. I think out of all the crimes possible to commit, sex crimes are the most revolting, let alone sex crimes against minors. I hope the judge on this case hates crimes like these as much as I do, because if she or he does, Menajem will be getting life in prison. I also don't understand how someone could be so disgusting as to do these kinds of things or even think about doing them. I feel so sorry for the eight little boys' lives that this man has ruined because of his own disgusting fetishes. How could someone trick innocent beings into doing something so awful? This kind of person has to have something seriously wrong with him or her. Doing an article on this man and this type of crimes seriously gave me the chills every time I thought about what I was reading. What is wrong with people these days?

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=221918

Policeman Arrested on Suspicion of Selling Bullets

This article is about a veteran policeman who served 27 years in the police, Abd al-Jafar Sa'adi, arrested Monday for suspicion of allegedly stealing and selling bullets from a shooting range. He was accused of stealing 80 bullets on more than one occasion. The suspect's attorney says the money he received after he stole the bullets was an "innocent loan", not connected to the bullets. He claims he did not make a profit from the stolen bullets. The suspect claimed to need to go to the hospital, as he had already had heart problems before, but he was checked out by a doctor, cleared right away and then was sent back to custody. The police claimed he was uncooperative with them during the questioning. The veteran admitted to stealing the bullets from a shooting range, but he did not admit to selling them for personal profit. Searches of his home have been conducted, but police have found nothing. The suspect's attorney is trying to earn his client credibility by throwing in the fact that this man has been serving on the police force for 27 years. The judge on the case, Judge Anat Zinger stated that the suspicion on Sa'adi is "reasonable", and has dismissed the claim that the funds he received were from a loan. The suspect's custody was extended by 3 days, courtesy of the court.

Once again, I don't understand why people do these kinds of things. It is so easy for them to be caught, because of how obvious the crime. I also don't understand how someone can make money off bullets? Maybe he sold them cheaper than retail, but I sure wouldn't be buying those kinds of bullets if I needed them. That kind of situation is shady to me; the bullets would almost have to absolutely be stolen. I also don't believe the all-too-coincidental story that the money he received was from a loan. If you're going to tell a story, at least make it somewhat believable. On the other hand, I'm not sure if this man should get too much jail time, if any. It doesn't sound like that serious of an offense.

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=222011

Monday, May 23, 2011

Egyptologist Suspected of Smuggling Artifacts from Israel

This article regards the smuggling and selling of ancient archeological artifacts illegally. It was reported that a retired lecturer specializing in Ancient Egypt from the US was caught selling antiquities to tourists and trying to leave the country with cash and checks totaling over $20,000 dollars. He tried to smuggle from Israel to the US hundreds of ancient artifacts. The retired lecturer sold the antiquities to some 20 tourists he was guiding, although they didn't know that he was doing so illegally. The suspect was detained at the Ben-Gurion Airport where he was just about to board his flight back home to the US. He was being held for questioning there. Only after he admitted to his crimes was he allowed to leave the country. The week-long surveillance operation for his arrest was conducted by undercover Antiquities Authority agents. They first saw the suspect selling items to tourists in the hotel where he was staying. After they were sure that the sale was completed, they searched his hotel room, along with belongings, and uncovered hundreds of ancient artifacts they believed to have been stolen by antiquities robbers from archeological sites throughout the country. Early in the investigation, officials stopped the tourists whom the suspect was in charge of guiding, and discovered that 20 of them were in possession of illegally obtained artifacts, all with the intent of taking them out of the country without permits. The tourists quickly told who they got the items from and the information confirmed the officials' suspicions. The tourists' items included bronze and silver coins dating back to the Second Temple period, clay oil lamps from the Roman and Byzantine eras, and ancient glass and ceramic vessels. 'The sale of antiquities without a permit and the export of antiquities from Israel without permission are criminal offenses for which the penalty prescribed by law is up to three years imprisonment,' said Amir Ganor, director of the Antiquities Authority’s Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery". 'Those buying antiquities from unauthorized dealers place themselves and their money at risk, purchase antiquities at exorbitant prices and are actually encouraging antiquities robbery and the plundering of the country’s history,' he said".

I think that people that do these kinds of things are not very bright. Obviously if you try to leave a country you don't belong to, or any country for that matter, with that much money and ancient artifacts that a civilian would never legally have you are going to get caught. The authorities are not stupid. It's one thing to do one sale or something small, but when you illegally sell artifacts to over 20 people consecutively, you're going to raise a red flag. Committing these kinds of crimes is not smart, even if you're one of the smartest people in the world; you'll eventually get caught. I think it's wrong to break the law anyways. This guy had better hope he has a good sob story for the jury or something like that when he goes to court because this case is pretty much open and shut. Which, for him, will mean three years in prison.

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=221220

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Thai Princess Meets with President Shimon Peres

This article covers the meeting that President Shimon Peres had with the princess of Thailand, Dr. HRH Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol. On route to the meeting, Mahidol got in a small car accident, but only suffered mild injuries. She was advised to go straight to the hospital to get testing, in case she was actually hurt, but she refused and said she wanted to go to the meeting anyway. "Mahidol told Peres, 'In my heart I feel half Israeli. I think like an Israeli. I visited here for the first time in the 1970s, and since then I keep looking for opportunities to return.'" The princess even added an Israeli name to her own: Tzila, which is how she signed her name in the president's guest book. "The princess, the youngest daughter of the Thai King, is a doctor of science, a lecturer in chemistry, and is deeply involved in scientific research in her country where she heads the Institute of Cancer Research." Israel and Thailand are in the middle of negotiating an industrial research and development treaty.

I think it's very cool for representatives for two different countries to just meet and chat... I don't know why but it's almost like two celebrities hanging out on weekends. I also like the way that Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol adores Israel so much that she made it part of her name.

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=220781

Mother and Grandfather Convicted of Murder

This article is about the conviction of murder and life sentence placed on the grandfather and mother of 4-year-old Rose Pizem. The verdict was delivered at The Petah Tikva District Court last Thursday. The court has a hearing scheduled for May 30th to hear arguments for leniency on the two convicted, with a possibility of a lesser sentence. The grandfather, Ronnie Ron was convicted of the actual murder of the toddler, while the mother, Marie Pizem was convicted of soliciting the murder. Ron says he and Rose were in the car together, going somewhere, Rose sitting in the backseat. Ron handed her something to eat.. Rose says "Disgusting, disgusting" in French and Ron said "Enough" back to her in French, and he turned around and smacked her. He stated that she then became reserved and quiet so he thought she was just upset or embarrassed about being slapped. Ron felt bad and thought he would take her to get ice cream. When he stops the car, he lifts her up to try to make her happy, and says she felt limp all the sudden. He stated that he "killed her in a second". Rose's body was found in the Tel Aviv's Yarkon River. Both suspects have shown remorse throughout this series of interviews and trials.

For me, it is very hard to believe that a simple slap killed this little girl. Either he's not telling the whole truth about what else he may have done to her, or that had to have been one heck of a slap. I don't think their story is true at all, except the remorse, although, I don't think the emotions recorded by the two resulted from the "accidental "murder; they are upset that they were caught in their crime, and that they are going to have to pay for it immensely. Ron's story seems way too suspicious for it to be as innocent as he claims. If I accidentally murdered my daughter or granddaughter, I don't know what I would do. But I know what I wouldn't do; dump her in a river like she was nothing. If my daughter wasn't breathing or I thought something was seriously wrong with her, I would have been rushing her to the hospital, and not trying to save my own butt by hiding what happened. If these two suspects would have tried to get help, they would not be looking so suspicious, which is why I think they are guilty.

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=221300

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=143538

Tel Aviv Truck Rampage

This article addresses the Tel Aviv motor vehicle incident that occurred recently. The suspect who caused this commotion is Isa Islam, 22, an Arab-Israeli. Islam says that he lost control of his vehicle after the tire exploded, and he plowed into many cars before swerving into oncoming traffic. At first, police were questioning whether this was truly an accident, but now they are increasingly sure that it was not. The driver is okay, but this incident resulted in many injured and one dead. It just so happened that this horrific incident occurred on "Nakba Day"; the day that is mourned by Palestinians as it is the anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel in 1948. It also just so happened that the driver was indeed Palestinian. There is a lot of circumstantial evidence against Mr. Islam. Eye witnesses of this occurrence say that the driver deliberately crashed into those targets along the way down the road. "Investigators believe their findings contradict Islam's version of events, according to which a punctured tire caused him to lose control of his vehicle." The Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court extended Islam's custody by eight days on Monday, most likely for the police to get to the bottom of this.

I truly hope that this incident was not intentional on the driver's behalf. It would be awful if he indeed went through all this trouble just to injure people out of spite. Although I hope that this was not the case, there is a significant amount of evidence that points to the idea that this was deliberate. Also, many eye witnesses have collaborated the story of intent by the driver. If so many people who were there say the same thing, doesn't that mean that there is a great possibility that this incident could actually have been intentional? And, to make matters worse for the 22-year-old driver, a witness stated that he yelled "Allahu Akbar", which means "Allah is the greatest", as he plowed into unsuspecting drivers in their cars.

http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=221183