Basketball / Law and order / Police detain Yirmi Olmert over punching incident

A brother of former prime Minister Ehud Olmert was detained yesterday by police for allegedly punching a reporter after a basketball game Tuesday night. Yirmi Olmert, a former Israel Basketball Association chairman and current representative of the association to FIBA, knocked down journalist Omer Benovich after exchanging words following a second-division game between Habika and Elitzur Kiryat Ata.

Olmert was questioned for four hours and released.

Benovich was treated at the site of the incident and filed a complaint with the police before being admitted to Sharon Hospital in Petah Tikva for observation. He was diagnosed with a mild concussion and was discharged during the night.

"About a month ago Olmert called Avi Bar, CEO of the Sports Channel," said Benovich yesterday, explaining the background to the incident. "He complained that in my article about the association's winning the right to host the second-tier European championship I didn't mention Olmert's name."

Benovich said that he brought a copy of the association's press release about the subject and that it did not mention Olmert.

"After the game, in which I was a sideline reporter, Olmert asked me: 'Come to the side, I want to talk to you,'" Benovich continued. "I replied that I didn't want to," he said.

"He responded with curses that are best not repeated," Benovich said. "I asked him to stop and tried to leave." According to Benovich, Olmert then grabbed his arm and cursed the reporter's mother, at which point Benovich cursed back. Olmert than punched him, causing Benovich to fall to the floor and hit his head, recalled Benovich, who added that he was still experiencing pain and dizziness.

Olmert was unavailable for comment. He told police yesterday, "The reporter has harassed me for years, and when we stood next to each other after the game I felt threatened."