Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., November 09, 2007 Cheshvan 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 05:10 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

Accountant General Yaron Zelekha speaking at the Academic College of Tel Aviv-Jaffa on Monday. (Eyal Toueg / BauBau) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 23:11 15/01/2007 Accountant General: Israel is the most corrupt country in the West By Ora Coren, Haaretz Correspondent The Finance Ministry's accountant general, Yaron Zelekha, said on Monday that Israel is the most corrupt country in the West, but that most of its civil service is honest and of high quality. Zelekha said he is optimistic since the authorities are dealing with the problems efficiently and with determination. Zelekha spent Monday with a security guard at his side- a result of the threats issued against him due to his fight against government corruption. Advertisement "Contrary to the public impression, I am very optimistic. The problem of corruption in the country is very serious, and we are for all practical purposes the most corrupt country in the Western world. This has been determined by international organizations," he explained. "These matters were hidden under the table, and now they are out in the open - therefore I am optimistic. The public is aware of the affairs, and that is part of the healing process," Zelekha said. He also defended the civil service, in spite of the inquiries into the Tax Authority. He said that the majority of the civil service was honest. According to him, the problem was that there were no checks and balances, and that there exist a few specific centers of corruption. In addition to Zelekha's complaint to the state comptroller against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the Bank Leumi privatization affair, there are sources who say he reported another 15 cases where Olmert intervened on behalf of businessmen in a manner contradicting proper procedures. Bookmark to del.icio.us Preface to peace? The U.S. has rejected Abbas' demand for a schedule for the final-status agreement. Crowd control The IFA has banned Beitar Jerusalem fans from two home games for booing Rabin.   1.   Israel is in the Middle East 22:24  |  Boycott 15/01/07   2.   Israel is a westren country 22:27  |  jay 15/01/07   3.   Embarrassing. Maybe Zelekha should run for PM... 22:37  |  bat yam 15/01/07   4.   Israel in the West? 22:41  |  RAK 15/01/07   5.   No Greece Is! 22:43  |  Yosemite 15/01/07   6.   Business Is Business & Moses Is Moses ... 22:52  |  Lavi 15/01/07   7.   Follow the leader 22:52  |  Sam 15/01/07   8.   Half of the truth 22:53  |  Moni 15/01/07   9.   My respect...... 22:55  |  Swiss (Dino) 15/01/07   10.   Israel is about as western as Japan 23:22  |  Sterk 15/01/07   11.   Poor john Wayne. 23:29  |  Billy Jack 15/01/07   12.   That`s what elections are for. 23:37  |  Ben Azai 15/01/07   13.   #4 Israel and the West 23:41  |  Joseph 15/01/07   14.   #1 Israel in the Middle East? 23:46  |  Sherlock Holmes 15/01/07   15.   Zelekha is an antisemite 23:47  |  michael N 15/01/07   16.   With all this corruption 00:21  |  Eliezer 16/01/07   17.   New Orleans 00:23  |  Salty1 16/01/07   18.   3rd world countries are much worse 00:26  |  Lemmings Hotline 16/01/07   19.   chritout 00:33  |  michel 16/01/07   20.   Swiss Dino - there`s a lot more you should pay respect to 01:03  |  Jeroen de Jager 16/01/07   21.   Things Are Not That Bad 01:06  |  Victor Smolinsky 16/01/07   22.   Most corrupt? dont think so,. check out Ireland.. 01:13  |  johnnymac 16/01/07   23.   Who Should Be Surprised !!! 01:17  |  Billy T 16/01/07   24.   Corruption as efficient as terrorism 01:27  |  Alberto 16/01/07   25.   Where are you *BEN JABO 01:28  |  Maureen Ann 16/01/07   26.   Basic Geography: Israel is not in the WEST- but Middle East 01:47  |  Persian Kitty 16/01/07   27.   Achtung baby 01:48  |  Aaron 16/01/07   28.   Rabbinic corruption is worse 01:49  |  Larry Wiener 16/01/07   29.   # 20 Jeroen de Jager 01:55  |  Swiss (Dino) 16/01/07   30.   Clearly Zelekha has not been to Rhode Island 01:58  |  Carl Dworman 16/01/07   31.   Israel and democracy 01:58  |  Oleg 16/01/07   32.   Did he mean "Israel is an image of the wild west" 02:05  |  Sam (UK) 16/01/07   33.   Map/skin 02:13  |  JJ 16/01/07   34.   Jews for Bibi 02:23  |  Boblill 16/01/07   35.   `Most corrupt country` 02:23  |  Domingo 16/01/07   36.   #25 - Maureen & Statistics 02:36  |  * BEN JABO 16/01/07   37.   Maureen Ann - Let`s talk about crime 02:50  |  * BEN JABO 16/01/07   38.   Why so much noise about the word West 02:54  |  Jerusalem Shmuel 16/01/07   39.   The Danger is When the Civil Service is also Corrupt 02:57  |  Phinias Whoppy 16/01/07   40.   #18 02:57  |  JJ 16/01/07   41.   #33 03:03  |  JJ 16/01/07   42.   *BEN JABO and Maureen Ann re Crime in Israel 03:29  |  Phinias Whoppy 16/01/07   43.   #36 03:31  |  JJ 16/01/07   44.   If Israel were moved from "middle east" to the "west"- 05:25  |  Voice of Reason 16/01/07   45.   #42 Phineas you`re quite mistaken 05:35  |  * BEN JABO 16/01/07   46.   Corruption 06:03  |  Gordon 16/01/07   47.   Machiavelli would approve 06:13  |  Hannah 16/01/07   48.   East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet 06:27  |  Hannah 16/01/07   49.   What ever but Yaron Zelekha is so cute 06:56  |  SJ 16/01/07   50.   *BEN JABO I live in Australia, and I can tell you... 07:39  |  Maureen Ann 16/01/07   51.   Ben Jabo, Part 2. "I was bashing Maureen." 07:56  |  Maureen Ann 16/01/07   52.   * BEN JABO Sorry for the Misunderstanding 08:10  |  Phinias Whoppy 16/01/07   53.   The surprize of Dino #9 08:16  |  S 16/01/07   54.   #50-51 Maureen - apparently you`re unaware 15:55  |  * BEN JABO 16/01/07   55.   Revelations #54 02:13  |  JJ 17/01/07   56.   Half full or half empty? 03:24  |  Itzik 17/01/07   57.   Accountant General aka/Yente 03:44  |  * BEN JABO 17/01/07   58.   S #53 21:24  |  S 07/11/07   59.   ISRAEL currpt...be serious 22:33  |  anonimoni 08/11/07

Today Online IDF reservists: Hamas militants fight like soldiers, not terrorists Responses: 304 Iran rejects Interpol warrant for suspects in Argentine bombing Responses: 89 UNRWA chief: Blockade on Gaza fuel support for extremists Responses: 142 Report: Washington worried Israel gearing up to attack Iran Responses: 137 Haaretz.com TV: Judaism seeking rebirth in Poland Responses: 65 David Grossman snubs Olmert upon receiving prize Responses: 47 Rosner's Domain * The 2008 candidates and the lies of "change" * Short of confronting Damascus, options are limited (WTR) * Rosner's Guest: Let's create a women's Talmud * Does Ron Paul single out Israel? More Headlines 03:57 Israel, PA agree future deals hinge on implementing road map 02:56 Knesset Constitution Committee seeks reform of electoral system 02:10 Israeli envoy to U.K. Zvi Heifetz likely to advise Blair on Mideast 05:02 Aide to Spanish PM: Spain seeks to improve relations with Israel 20:33 Prague neo-Nazis plan march in Jewish quarter despite city ban 23:06 UN Chief orders full probe of rocket launching from school in Gaza 23:44 Barak and Olmert meet face-to-face to level working tensions 23:02 Hezbollah: Drill held at Israel border meant to ready us for war 15:53 Iran rejects Interpol warrant for suspects in Argentine bombing 04:13 Tottenham defeats Hapoel Tel Aviv in UEFA Cup match Previous Editions Select Day 08 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 02 nov 01 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 26 oct

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