Bar Association Head Arrested in Sex Scandal
Israel Bar Association leader Effit Naveh was arrested Jan. 16 for allegedly nominating a female judge to a magistrate’s court in exchange for sexual favors, The Times of Israel reported.
The website reported that Naveh is also believed to have had sexual relations with the wife of another judge to help him advance to a higher court. Apparently, that promotion never was granted.
As the leader of the Bar Association, Naveh held one of nine seats on the Judicial Appointments Committee. That committee determines placements and promotions for judges in Israel’s three-tiered judicial system. Naveh was released to house arrest despite a police request that he remain in custody for three days.
Naveh also was indicted in December on suspicion that he smuggled a woman out of the country, then tried to bring her back in unregistered through border control.
Israeli Natural Gas to be Exported to Egypt
As part of its plan to sell its natural gas manufacturing services across the globe, Israel will soon start exporting natural gas to Egypt, JNS.org reported.
By selling the natural gas, Israel seeks to improve its existing diplomatic relations and forge new ones.
Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz said on Jan. 14 that exports would double, but didn’t provide specific figures. Shipments to Egypt are expected to reach 1.85 trillion gallons annually within a decade, he said. Of the exports, half will be used for Egypt’s domestic economy, with the other liquefied to be re-exported.
Tank Goes Off Course When Crew Dozes
An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tank crew fell asleep during a training exercise, and the tank went out of control, including crossing a major highway, according to The Algemeiner.
The Merkava 4 tank crew had been ordered to stay in place by a platoon commander. A braking mechanism was supposed to have been activated. The tank was later discovered 600 meters away crossing a highway. Nobody was hurt and no damage was reported.
The incident occurred at the Armored Corps School during a training course for tank commanders, Mako reported.
Vegetarian Chief of Staff Sworn In
Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi — who is reportedly the first vegetarian to hold the position — was sworn in Jan. 15 as Israel’s military chief of staff, JTA reported.
Kochavi, 54, is a former paratrooper who earned master’s degrees in public administration from Harvard University and in international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He succeeds Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot.
Kochavi headed the Military Intelligence Directorate and the Northern Command and was decorated for serving during the Second Lebanon War in 2006 and Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in 2014.
“As the head of the General Staff, while I have national security and the good of the state before me, I make a new vow. There is much work to be done,” he said.
Kochavi and Eisenkot upheld tradition after the swearing-in by visiting the Mount Herzl national military cemetery and memorial and the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and museum. They also met with President Reuven Rivlin.
