News in Brief

A Beit Shemesh man, 45, was arrested yesterday for allegedly abusing three of his 12 children repeatedly, at times pressing a burning hot knife to their tongues. The man was arrested following a complaint issued by the town's social services, in contact with the family after the mother was indicted last month for child abuse. Labeled "Taliban mother" in the media due to the severe nature of the abuse, she was sentenced to four years in prison and six months suspended sentence for abusing her 12 children. The father allegedly only abused three children. (Liel Keizer)

MK Ilan Ghilon and Meretz chairman Mossi Raz yesterday filed a police complaint against SOS Israel (the World Headquarters to Save the People and the Land of Israel) and Rabbi Sholom Dov Wolpo, who've been documented awarding monetary prizes to soldiers sent to military prison for refusing an order to evacuate the Homesh outpost. SOS Israel also gave NIS 20,000 to each soldier who raised a banner protesting the evacuation at the Western Wall a month ago. Haaretz reported this week that the group is a registered nonprofit with "good government" authorization, and that it enjoys tax-exempt status in the United States. (Jonathan Lis)

The 11 immigrants from Ethiopia who had been waiting for three weeks to receive a school placement in Petah Tikva were admitted yesterday to private religious and ultra-Orthodox schools in the city. Five of the children began their studies yesterday, while the remainder are to start today or Sunday. The schools accepting the students include Merhav, Darchei No'am and Da'at Mevinim, institutions at the center of the conflict concerning the admittance of students of Ethiopian descent in Petah Tikva. (Or Kashti)

Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli continues her unofficial role representing Israel abroad as she graces the December cover of French travel magazine L'Officiel Voyage. The idea to feature Refaeli on the magazine's cover reportedly came from none other than French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who wanted to promote French tourism to Israel. The 11-page spread, titled "Tel Aviv with Bar Refaeli," features some of the model's favorite places in the city, including the Neve Tzedek neighborhood and the boardwalk. The magazine sent a special team to Tel Aviv to work with Refaeli, who also edited the feature's photographs. Refaeli most recently made headlines when she and former flame Leonardo DiCaprio were reportedly spotted together at a Bahamas luxury resort. (Haaretz Staff)

Oren Lavie's "Her Morning Elegance" is up for a Grammy Award in the best short form music video category, it was announced late Wednesday. The Israeli musician's entry will compete against the Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow," Coldplay's "Life In Technicolor II," Depeche Mode's "Wrong" and "Mr. Hurricane" by Beast. Lavie, whose debut album "The Opposite Side of the Sea" was released about two years ago, is recording his second album in Los Angeles. The nominated video, which was used in a Chevrolet commercial in the United States, was directed by Lavie and animators Yuval and Merav Nathan. It has racked up nearly 9 million views on YouTube. (Noya Kohavi)