Syria orchestrated infiltration
Syria’s government orchestrated the infiltration of Israel’s northern border by hundreds of Palestinians, a British newspaper reported. Michael Weiss, blogging on the Daily Telegraph website, reported that he had been forwarded “what appear to be Syrian state documents” leaked by the governor of al-Qunaitera, in southwest Syria. The documents, Weiss writes, show that the Assad regime “fully orchestrated” the May 15 Nakba Day border infiltration by Palestinians from Syria. According to one document, the regime ordered 20 buses to cross the border into Majdal-Shams in the Golan Heights to set up a clash between the Palestinians and Israeli soldiers, thus shifting international attention from the Syrian revolution. Weiss, spokesperson of Just Journalism, which monitors the British medias coverage of Israel and the Middle East, wrote that believes the documents are genuine.
Olmert denies taking cash
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in testimony at his corruption trial denied accepting envelopes full of cash from American businessman Morris Talansky. Olmert said that Talansky’s testimony was made up of “fantasies,” and that no cash was involved in Talansky’s campaign contributions and personal donations. He also said the suggestions that Talansky lent him money were false. Talansky allegedly gave Olmert envelopes containing thousands of dollars in cash over a period of several years. Talansky testified that Olmert would only accept cash donations. Making his first comments on the Talansky case in court, Olmert said he received money from Talansky in the form of political donations for his campaign, refunds for hotel expenses when he spoke at events organized by Talansky and $40,000 for legal expenses in 1996. Olmert is on trial in three cases: for allegedly paying for family vacations by double billing Jewish organizations through the Rishon Tours travel agency; for allegedly accepting envelopes full of cash from Talansky; and for allegedly granting personal favours to attorney Uri Messer when he served as trade minister in the Investment Center case. Olmert is the first former Israeli prime minister to stand trial. He resigned as prime minister in September.
Mavi Marmara not sailing
The Turkish ship that was the scene of bloodshed during a 2010 Israeli raid will not be sailing in a planned flotilla to Gaza. The Mavi Marmara will not participate in the flotilla aimed at breaking Israel’s sea blockade of the Hamas-controlled territory. IHH, the Turkish Islamic charity behind the flotilla effort, said in a Friday news conference that the ship did not gain necessary approval from Turkish port authorities for technical reasons. On May 31, 2010, nine Turks were killed aboard the Mavi Marmara when violence broke out as Israeli commandos raided the ship during the first Gaza-bound flotilla. The new flotilla is scheduled to set out for Gaza on June 25.
Explosion kills 3 in Netanya
A suspected gas tank explosion in the Israeli coastal city of Netanya killed three people and injured 49 others. The explosion in the four-storey building, which occurred shortly after midnight early Friday morning, damaged surrounding structures. The three killed were a woman in her 20s and two women in their 40s, according to the Jerusalem Post. A police spokesperson said that the blast was not a terrorism attack, the Post reported.
– JTA