Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., April 02, 2009 Nisan 8, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:10 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File

News in Brief While pistachios are being recalled all over the U.S. due to potential salmonella contamination, the Health Ministry yesterday assured Israeli consumers that they are not at risk. The recalled U.S. nuts were distributed around the country on or after Sept. 1, 2008 by Setton Pistachio. "A check of all the records of commercial food imports into Israel showed no products from Setton," said ministry spokeswoman Einav Shimron-Greenboim. (Ran Reznick) Security forces will simulate a terrorist attack at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Friday, in order to prepare for security ahead of the Passover rush, the airport said. The drill, which will include sirens and explosions, is scheduled to begin in the morning and end before Shabbat. Ultra-Orthodox leaders have demanded that security drills not take place on Shabbat. During the two-week Passover holiday period, which is considered a high-alert time at the airport, some 445,000 passengers will arrive and depart on 3,000 planes, 10 percent less than last year. (Zohar Blumenkrantz) Advertisement Moshe Katsav's attorneys are planning to ask the Tel Aviv District Court to postpone the April 23 reading of the indictment against the former president, who stands accused of rape and other sexual offenses. The date was set earlier this week. Katsav's attorneys, Avigdor Feldman, Zion Amir and Avraham Lavie, are expected to tell the court they need more time to prepare, since they do not have all the investigative material. Sources said the lawyers could demand Katsav receive another hearing before Attorney General Menachem Mazuz. (Tomer Zarchin) Crime figure Dror Alperon will spend 10 months in jail and pay a fine of NIS 10,000 for extortion by threats, a Tel Aviv District Court judge ruled yesterday. Alperon, a member of one of Israel's most infamous crime families, force a private party organizer to pay him NIS 1,500 for each party the man organized, starting last August. The victim told Alperon that this was more than his profit, but Alperon said that in that case "he shouldn't organize parties." Alperon took a total of NIS 5,000 from the man. Alperon's father, Yaakov, was murdered a few months ago in Tel Aviv in what police said was an underworld settling of scores. (Tomer Zarchin) Two police officers who work as intelligence coordinators were arrested yesterday for allegedly accepting bribes from brothel owners in exchange for warning them about impending raids. A remand hearing is scheduled at Jerusalem Magistrate's Court this morning. The suspicions surfaced a few months ago, when police officers conducting raids of the establishments surmised that suspects had advance knowledge of their actions. These officers, from the Central District, contacted the Justice Ministry's Police Investigation Department, naming the suspect officers, and an investigation was initiated. In addition to the two officers involved in intelligence work, five other people were arrested in connection to the affair: a third officer and four convicted criminals who allegedly paid off the officers. (Jonathan Lis) By illegally hiring a contractor for a public works project, the mayor of Rehovot committed crimes of moral turpitude and must resign, a Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court judge ruled yesterday. Yehoshua "Shuky" Forer was convicted in January of breach of trust, for awarding a contract without a tender in exchange for campaign donations from the contractor. The conviction was reached in a plea bargain. Forer had maintained that he could remain in office, but as a result of yesterday's ruling he was formally replaced as mayor by his deputy. Forer's lawyer said he will appeal the ruling. (Tomer Zarchin) Some 600 Passover kits will be shipped to Jewish soldiers serving in United States military units in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf next week. Some of the kits will be delivered to Jewish sailors stationed on U.S. naval vessels in the Persian Gulf. Each of the kits contains a package of regular matzo, a package of chocolate-coated matzo, a large jar of Gefilte Fish, kosher-for-Passover noodles, a box of candy, a yarmulke, a Passover Hagaddah and a booklet explaining the essence and traditions of Passover. The kits were prepared and will be delivered by the JCC. (Shlomo Shamir) Bookmark to del.icio.us   Israel's new policy FM Lieberman: Israel not bound by Annapolis commitment for Palestinian state. Netanyahu's cabinet: An introduction to the faces - some old and some new - who make up Israel's new coalition.

Read & React Lieberman: Israel not bound by Annapolis Responses: 150 Editorial: Netanyahu government doomed to failure Responses: 71 '70% of Palestinian youth oppose violence in conflict with Israel' Responses: 52 Aluf Benn: Will Netanyahu strike Iran? Responses: 156 IDF raps soldiers for images of dead Palestinian babies on t-shirts Responses: 53 More Headlines 22:42 Obama tells Netanyahu: U.S. committed to Israel's security 22:40 Lieberman: Israel is changing its policies on peace 19:02 Obama and Medvedev: Iran has right to peaceful nuclear program 22:28 Hamas: Netanyahu government reflects racism of Israeli society 17:49 Aluf Benn / Will Netanyahu attack Iran? 14:06 Netanyahu government / Who's who in the new cabinet 11:13 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel 13:28 IN PICTURES / Netanyahu government is sworn in 00:23 Greece beats Israel 2-1 in World Cup soccer qualifier 16:15 Netanyahu: Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work 21:41 Israel seizes load of handguns and rifles en route to West Bank 21:31 Israeli Arab and rightist MKs wrangle at inaugural Knesset session 23:33 N.Y. to battle sexual abuse among ultra-Orthodox Jews Previous Editions Select Day 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 29 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 22 mar 20 mar 19 mar

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