THE JEWISH WORLD
THIS WEEK IN ISRAEL
30 hours of tension this week affected Israel's most densely populated region, the Dan Region, including Tel Aviv and satellite towns, when the Ministry of health announced that local residents must not drink tap water, boiled water or filtered water. On Monday evening, immediately after the announcement, thousands of people queued up at all-night supermarkets and kiosks to buy bottled mineral water. The Ministry of Health announcement followed the detection of contaminated water (apparently containing high concentrations of ammonia) the source of which has yet to be found. 30 hours later the Ministry gave the "all clear" for drinking from the regular water supply, but "Mekorot" experts are still investigating how the contamination occurred.
Tens of thousands of foreign workers who obtained permits to enter PA controlled areas, remain in Israel illegally. The Ministry of Defense, the Interior and the General Security Service estimate that some 60,000 Jordanians are in Israel illegally, mostly in Arab villages in the Triangle and the Galilee. IDF and government representatives made this report to the Knesset Committee, which is reviewing the problem of foreign workers. The PM has ordered a widespread law-enforcement campaign "with emphasis on Jordanians, Palestinians and other aliens".
There was drama this week at Jerusalem's International Convention Center (Binyanei Hauma) when renowned conductor Daniel Barenboim and the National Berlin Orcehstra played a piece by controversial German composer Richard Wagner ("Tristan and Isolda"). The composer was barred from the program, however, Barenboim included him in his encore and fierce arguments broke out between Barenboim and the audience, with most of the audience in favor of the music. The opposition called Barenboim a "Fascist" and told him to "Go home." Many left the theater angrily banging the doors behind them. When asked for his comment, Prime Minister Sharon said: "I would prefer it if Wagner was not played, for one reason - there are many people in Israel (holocaust survivors) who find this difficult. It's just too soon". In fact, Barenboim bypassed the ban on Wagner imposed by Knesset decision, and President Katsav called it "unethical".
The Knesset Finance Committee approved the transfer of NIS 54 million to the Jewish Agency's Settlement Department for communities in the Territories, the Golan Heights and the Jordan Valley, this week. Two days later, the Committee approved the transfer of NIS 17.2 million from the general reserve to communities in the Golan Heights, the Jordan Valley and Ma'aleh Efraim. Members of Knesset from the Meretz and Shinui parties demanded a revote next week in order to determine whether this is not double funding.
Following a legal battle waged over the past 11/2 year a hospital in Israel's central region, the Courts ordered the Ministry of Health to publish hair-raising testimony regarding a case regarding the practices of the IVF unit where thousands of infertile couples rely on the "charity" of the doctors. The testimony cites cases in which employees at the units threw away eggs taken from women, test-tubes containing embryos, and test-tubes containing sperm taken from the men were broken. The cases involve suspected fraud and deception of women in an effort to extort money from them, and suspicion of criminal acts. The legal battle is being waged by two attorneys - Vered Cohen and Ra'anan Bar On, who represented a couple in a claim against the hospital that claimed that a test-tube containing embryos had smashed, and then a year and a half later said that the test-tube had been found. This week Att. Vered Cohen published a book called "Private Justice." In it she speaks of the trade in frozen eggs and embryos by senior doctors at a unit of this kind - and although the plot is "fictional" it is based on real information. A year ago two gynecologists were detained on suspicion of trading in eggs, and presently an investigation team has been set up by the Ministry of Health and the State Prosecutor's office, to examine suspicion of trade in eggs.
|
|
