Tell me no leaks

As the news editor of the only paper of the big four newspapers in Israel that did not publish any leaks of the Olmert - Talansky affair last week I feel that I am in the unique position to offer my assessment of what has turned out to be an extremely bizarre story.

The Jerusalem Post has covered the story of the daily leaks of the questioning of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his long-time associate Uri Messer with a benign detachment, with some amusement, and a lot of worrying about the state of our democracy. I don't feel bad that we weren't leaked to. On the contrary, I am happy that we are not perceived as a willing tool in somebody's campaign, be it the Prime Minister's Office, the police, prosecution, or any number of lawyers representing Shula Zaken, Uri Messer and Morris Talansky. We're playing it straight, and that's the way I prefer it.

Yediot vs Ma'ariv

If it wasn't so sad it would be funny.

Yesterday's front page banner headline in Yediot Aharonot read:

"Sources close to Olmert: This is anarchy! The company commanders have crossed a red line".

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Letter to MK Yishai: 'Your support could not have been more timely'

Dear MK Yishai
 
I was very gratified by the decision of Rabbi Yosef and Shas to openly support the release of Jonathan Pollard. During our earliest correspondence Jonathan and I agreed that his only real possibility for release would result from the intervention of the Israel Government on his behalf.
 
As one who helped organize and was first Director of Justice for the Pollards in 1989 I have taken an active interest in his case for many years. In 1989 I brought Jonathan's sister to Israel to lay the foundation for grassroots and governmental support for his release. That visit resulted in a letter from the Chief Rabbis to President Reagan, the public support of Interior Minister Hammer, and a meeting in the Knesset with more than 30 members from all parties. From that meeting, and with the assistance of the office of MK Geula Cohen, we were able to draft a petition calling for Pollard's release. The petition was signed by more than seventy members and delivered to the White House by an official delegation of Knesset members in early 1990. 

'The strike ruined my year in Israel'

Perhaps this may seem like a selfish rant, but in essence, as a student I have a right to be selfish about my education, as does every other student in the country, and in the free world, for that matter.

I am currently involved in the Overseas Program at the University of Haifa, on exchange from Canada. In the spring I decided to come to Israel for my final year of school, and for over half a year was set on this plan. Travel arrangements were made and dozens of hours were spent dealing with the "small things", like making sure my credits transfer properly. On top of the regular arrangements a student makes when preparing for a year abroad, I also applied and was accepted for the MASA scholarship program. This program made the whole thing feel like even more of a genuine Jewish experience because the funding comes from the Jewish Agency, and in return a participant needs to partake in a volunteer project.

All set to go to Israel for my fourth time, a Zionist at heart, I was quite excited; I had only traveled to the country before on organized trips such as with birthright and Hillel.

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