Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., August 13, 2008 Av 12, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:44 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Business in Brief Following the discovery that two more multiple sclerosis sufferers died of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a rare brain disease of viral origin that has been linked to the drug Tysabri, Israel's Health Ministry is requiring the drug's distributor in Israel to direct local doctors on the need to monitor patients taking it. Tysabri, which competes with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' drug Copaxone, had initially been approved in the U.S. in November 2004, only to be banned from marketing in February 2005 after being linked to the condition. It was reinstated in July 2007 at the behest of patients who preferred to run the risk of developing PML rather than continue to suffer the symptoms of MS. Tysabri was included in Israel's drugs basket from March 2008. (Ronny Linder-Ganz) Israel's gasoline suppliers have been hit with an NIS 150 million class action motion, for printing receipts that can't be submitted to the taxman because the ink on the thermal paper disappears too quickly, or turns black. The companies in question are Paz, Sonol, Dor Alon and Delek. After a few days, complained the plaintiffs, you can't read how much was paid or the number of the car, let alone the date of the transaction. "Thermal paper reacts immediately to heat and light," the plaintiffs point out and added some pieces of blank paper that they say used to be receipts for buying gas to their claim. (Amit Benaroia) Advertisement The Industry and Trade Ministry has rejected investment requests from four industrial heavyweights in Israel, furthering its policy of promoting smaller companies instead. The unlucky four are Tower Semiconductor, which asked for $80 million; Phoenicia America Israel (Flat Glass), which wanted $12 million; Arava Mines, which wanted $30 million to build a copper mine in Timna, yes, where King Solomon's minions once dug for the ore; and Tecjet, a Wertheimer family firm, which sought $7 million to expand its Tefen plant and hire 60 people. (Ora Coren) Most of Kadima's ministers will support Finance Minister Roni Bar-On's efforts to pass the 2009 budget within a matter of weeks. But some are opposed to certain sections of the budget proposal. Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz and Public Security Minister Avi Dichter are apparently two of the opponents. Kadima sources note that Mofaz had opposed the budget proposal last year too. (Moti Bassok) The Azrieli business group is negotiating to buy JapanAuto, said Metis Capital in an announcement to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange yesterday. Metis owns a 50% controlling interest in the Subaru importing company. The deal would include JapanAuto's car leasing company, EuropeCar. Metis manager Itzik Cohen said the talks with Azrieli, which owns several malls around Israel including the iconic Azrieli Center in Tel Aviv, are still preliminary. Cohen also says Metis gets offers for JapanAuto all the time, and at least David Azrieli's business group wouldn't have trouble raising money. The other owner of JapanAuto, by the way, is Gad Zeevi's Mirage group. (Daniel Schmil) Bank of Israel workers will be keeping about NIS 10 million in "efficiency bonuses" that they received in 2002. The Finance Ministry had initially insisted that they return the money, but compromised after the central bank reluctantly agreed to stop paying the automatic "efficiency bonuses" as of 2003. From 1994 to 2002, central bank workers received NIS 140 million in "efficiency bonuses" that the ministry did not even try to recover. Its entire effort had focused on bonuses paid during three quarters of 2002. But in the collective wage agreement for 2007, the treasury agreed to forgo that pleasure, too. (Tal Levy) Bookmark to del.icio.us   An astounding 'no' Palestinians reject PM's offer to return 93% of West Bank, calling it a 'waste of time.' No friend of ours Iranian VP gets summoned by parliament for saying Iran is a friend of Israel's.

Read & React Olmert gives Abbas plan for Israeli pullout from 93% of W. Bank Responses: 303 Aluf Benn: Hamas could still turn Gaza into the Taiwan of the Mideast Responses: 40 Editorial: IDF is prepared to turn blind eye to illegal shooting of bound Palestinian Responses: 54 Iranian VP summoned by parliament after saying Iran is a friend of Israel, U.S. Responses: 20 Moshe Arens: Iran has blinded Israeli leaders to Hamas, Hezbollah threat Responses: 21 More Headlines 00:21 Barak: Dedicate each day of Gaza calm to freeing Shalit 01:21 Georgia agrees to modified France's modified peace proposal 00:37 Israeli journalist seriously hurt while covering Georgia clashes 22:10 'We've reached a safe haven,' say Israelis returning from Georgia 01:31 Dichter joins Kadima race, fires opening salvos at Mofaz, Livni 20:54 Iranian VP summoned by parliament after saying Iran a friend of Israel, U.S. 21:41 'Zohan' actor Rob Schneider learns to haggle at Jaffa flea market 08:14 Haaretz newsletter: All the news from Israel direct to your inbox 16:32 PA rejects Olmert's offer to withdraw from 93% of West Bank 20:59 Beijing Olympics / Tennis hopes dashed as Israeli swimmers break records 23:12 Syria's top cleric: Middle East peace starts in Syria 17:01 Bar-On's 2009 budget proposal: More money for defense, welfare, education 15:01 Israel grants war vet status to woman raped by British troops in Mandate Palestine 22:03 Government to move illegal outpost Migron to existing settlement Previous Editions Select Day 12 aug 11 aug 10 aug 08 aug 07 aug 06 aug 05 aug 04 aug 03 aug 01 aug 31 jul 30 jul

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