News in Brief

Two brothers critically wounded in Ma'aleh Adumim apartment fire

Two brothers age three and eight were critically wounded in a fire that broke out in their apartment yesterday in Ma'aleh Adumim. At around 6:30 P.M., emergency services received a call reporting an apartment fire in the city. A large contingent of rescue workers arrived on the scene, and discovered the boys trapped inside the burning apartment. Firefighters managed to rescue the two from the fire, and they were rushed to Sha'are Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem suffering from severe smoke inhalation. Initial investigations indicate that the most likely cause of the fire was an electrical problem in the building. (Jonathan Lis)

Tel Aviv man sentenced to 15 years for 'honor killing' of his sister two years ago

A man from the Tel Aviv area was sentenced yesterday in Tel Aviv District Court to 15 years in prison for killing his sister two years ago, in what is known as an "honor killing," perpetrated to "uphold the family's honor." Walid al-Ubeid drove another brother, Khaled, to Herzl Street in Tel Aviv where they found the sister standing at a bus stop. Khaled then stabbed his sister, and forced her into the car Walid was driving. Khaled then continued to stab the sister until she died. The two brothers then drove to Jaffa, where they threw her body into the sea. After arrest, the two said they decided their sister should die because she was a prostitute who was using drugs. (Ofra Edelman)

Remand extended for suspected rapist

The Hadera Magistrate's Court extended by five days the remand of two young men suspected of raping a 23-year-old woman on Monday night, New Year's Eve. The woman, who lives in Hadera, arrived at the city's police station on Tuesday morning to file a complaint. She said the two men, age 26 and 27, had raped her after she arrived at their invitation to an apartment in town. The woman said she had known the two men for some time. She also told police that the two men took turns raping her while they were drunk. The two men have criminal records from previous drug offenses. (Fadi Eyadat)

Transportation Minister Mofaz against airline compensation for canceled flights

Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz opposes a bill authored by Mk Ahmed Tibi proposing that airlines financially compensate passengers whose flights are canceled or delayed, a source close to the minister told Haaretz yesterday. "Mofaz opposes the bill because it will work to the passengers' disadvantage," the source said. "If the bill passes into law, the airlines would raise prices to compensate for their losses. And so passengers would suffer doubly: Both from canceled flights and from a price hike." (Zohar Blumenkrantz)

Two more indicted for pedophilia after sting

The State Prosecutor's Office indicted two people yesterday for allegedly attempting to seduce underage girls. The defendants were arrested following a Channel 10 sting investigation into pedophiles, which was aired last month. So far the probe has resulted in 14 indictments. The two defendants - Nir Guri from Tel Aviv and Yehoshua Pitshon from Ramat Gan, both in their early 30s - are accused of conducting a sexually explicit Internet chat with a Channel 10 reporter purporting to be a 13-year-old girl. Guri is charged with carrying out an indecent act in front of a Webcam and sending it to the reporters. Pitshon is accused of sending a pornographic movie. (Ofra Edelman)

High Court overrules prosecutor appeal

The High Court of Justice has overruled an appeal by the State Prosecutor's Office, which sought a heavier prison term for a man from the north who hired the services of thugs to injure a rancher with whom he had had a land dispute. The Nazareth district court sentenced Abed al-Aziz Zuabi yesterday to 45 months in prison for conspiring to injure Amir Angel from Tel Adashi. Zuabi paid NIS 30,000 to three associates, who shot Angel in the leg three years years ago. The court agreed to add nine months to the prison terms of two of the three men Zuabi hired for the job. The first henchman, Marwan Zuabi, was originally sentenced to four years in jail. The other, Ghadi Agbaria, was originally sentenced to three years in prison. A third man, suspected of pulling the trigger and leaving Angel to bleed in his field, is still on trial. (Eli Ashkenazi)

Man denies role in Ze'evi assassination

A man accused of being involved with the killing of former minister Rehavam Ze'evi denied the allegations in his testimony yesterday before the Jerusalem District Court. Ihad Ghulma said he was a researcher for a human rights group from Ramallah, and had nothing to do with the assassination of the hawkish politician in Jerusalem on October 17, 2001. The Shin Bet Security Service believe Ghulma is a senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the organization which is believed to be responsible for the killing. (Ofra Edelman)