January 16, 2010
The Amazing Ehudini
The Amazing Ehudini 
Edna Spennato 2009.
Photomontage made on 1 February 2009.
Click on image to enlarge
Originally published at Auntie Ziona as The Amazing Ehudini
Also at these links: Kenny’s Sideshow, Window Into Palestine, BuJ Al Arab, Uprooted Palestinians.
Updated 17 April 2010:
Olmert faces new corruption charge
Ehud Olmert, the former Israeli prime minister, who left office last year due to corruption charges, has been identified as a key suspect in separate bribery charges.
Police said on Thursday that Olmert, 63, was suspected in a case in which millions of dollars were exchanged for the promotion of real estate projects, including a controversal housing scheme in Jerusalem in which zoning laws had to be changed.
Olmert is suspected of taking almost $1m in bribes during the time of the Holyland residential project in the 1990s, when he was the mayor of Jerusalem…
…The case has been billed as Israel’s “real estate scandal of the century” in the local media. Olmert’s picture had previously been placed next to the story in newspapers, although the gag order prevented the “public figure” allegedly involved from being named.
Al Jazeera’s Jacky Rowland, in Jerusalem, said: “An investigating judge called it one of the worst corruption cases in the history of Israel.
“Police suspect that he benefitted from backhanders to change planning laws. Olmert is expected to speak later.”
Olmert was already facing three different charges of corruption.
He was forced to step down as prime minister last year after police accused him of double and triple-billing Jewish organisations for trips abroad and taking the extra money.
However, police have said that the new charges are much bigger then those previously filed against him.
Read in full here.
Updated 25 February 2010:
Trial Against Israeli ex-PM begins
JERUSALEM, Feb. 25 (UPI) — Prosecutors expressed confidence Thursday evidence would prove former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was guilty of fraud, tax evasion and breach of trust.
Defense attorneys countered that the prosecution knows its evidence was inadequate to prove its case against Olmert, The Jerusalem Post reported.
Olmert’s trial opened Thursday in the Jerusalem District Court. He was indicted for fraudulent receipt of goods, false registration of corporate documents, fraud, breach of trust, tax and tax evasion on three different issues…
Read in full here.
September 2009:
Trial against former premier Olmert opens in Israel
Jerusalem – The first trial in Israeli history against a former premier opened Friday in Jerusalem’s District Court. Almost exactly a year after he resigned amid corruption allegations, former premier Ehud Olmert made his first court appearance, in what was largely a preliminary procedural hearing…
As Olmer arrived at the court he told reporters: “I arrived here as a man innocent of any crimes, and I believe I will leave here as a man innocent of any crimes.”…
The indictments themselves were filed in August.
They include charges of fraud under aggravated circumstances, breach of trust, forging of corporate documents, and failure to report income. Olmert is not, however, facing charges of bribery, as the police had recommended to prosecutors.
Amongst other charges, he is suspected of having submitted multiple times over the same travel expenses for trips abroad to different government bodies and Jewish organizations.
The ex-premier allegedly pocketed the excesses, which accumulated in a special account managed by his travel agent and used for private trips with his family. That alleged corruption scandal became known in the Israeli media as Rishon Tours, after the travel agency, or as “Olmertours.”
The former premier is also suspected of having accepted envelopes with large amounts of cash from Jewish-American businessman Morris Talansky. Olmert insists they constituted legitimate donations.
His office manager Zaken allegedly in many cases accepted the money on his behalf.
Lastly, Olmert stands accused of cronyism, allegedly giving preferential treatment to a factory represented by a friend of his, Uri Messer, when he served as trade and industry minister…
Although Olmert is the first former or current Israeli premier ever to stand trial on criminal charges, but the proceedings come as Israel’s political elite is tarnished by a host of corruption and other scandals….
December 21, 2009
Bring the Israeli War Criminals to Justice
Israeli War Criminals Edna Spennato 2009.
Photomontage made on 5 Feb 2009.
Click on image to enlarge
The response to violence is justice. Please sign the universal petition to urge the ICC to bring the war criminals to justice.
Approximately 300 among NGOs and associations ask the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to open an investigation on the war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza. Our support is indispensable. Sign and circulate this urgent «universal petition».
To the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC)
Law is the distinguishing mark of human civilisation. All progress made by humanity coincides with the consolidation of rights. The challenge that Israel’s aggression against Gaza poses to us consists in affirming, when confronted with such great suffering, that the response to violence is justice.
War crimes? Only courts are able to bring about a sentence, but all of us can bear witness, because a human being only exists in his relationship with others. The circumstances show the breadth of their dimension in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1949, «All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.»
The protection of populations, and not only of States, is the reason why the International Criminal Court exists. A population without a State is the most threatened of all, and before History, they are placed under the protection of international bodies. The most vulnerable populations must be the most protected. Killing Palestinian civilians, the Israeli armoured tanks have caused humanity as a whole to bleed. We have been insisting that the power of the Prosecutor be put at the service of all the victims, and this task must allow that the entire world receives a message of hope, that of the construction of international rights based on human rights. And together, one day, we can pay homage to the Palestinian people for the contribution that they have given to the defense of human freedom.
Published at these links: David Icke Headlines, Window Into Palestine, Uprooted Palestinians, WUFYS, Ziopedia, Exposing Zionofacism, Band Annie’s Weblog (French), Band Annie’s Weblog (English), Signs of the Times.
January 26, 2009
The Three Stooges in ‘Genocide in Gaza’
The 3 Stooges in ‘Genocide in Gaza’ Edna Spennato 2009.
Photomontage made on 25 Jan 2009.
Click on image to enlarge
Death squads supplied by “Moe” Olmert, currently a perpetual prisoner inside Israel Occupied Palestine, living in fear of the coming War Crimes Tribunal.
Unconventional weaponry supplied by “Larry” Bush as one final act of mass murder before retiring to his ranch in Paraguay, from where he believes he cannot be extradited to face charges for crimes against humanity.
Access to a caged civilian population supplied by “Curley” Abbas Mazen, who avoided the recent Middle Eastern summit for fear that “they will cut my throat”, and the proud owner of the only house still left standing in Gaza.
Published at these links: WUFYS, Uprooted Palestinians.
