Israel ranks among most corrupt in West

[righthand]

{Not sure where you rank HAARETZ. I find them honest, despite the headline}
Where do your Tax Dollars Go???
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/608423.html
Israel ranks among most corrupt in West
By Ora Coren ....Thu., August 04, 2005 Tamuz 28, 5765

Israel's regime is one of the most corrupt and least efficient in the Western world. In fact, the only developed country considered more corrupt and less efficient is Italy, according to data published by the World Bank. The World Bank figures are in the public domain, and were republished yesterday by Business Data Israel (BDI). The World Bank government efficiency index examines the quality of public services. It ranks the professionalism of government officials providing the services, bureaucracy, political pressure on officials and government's credibility regarding policy commitments. The Israeli index reached 80.8 percent, trailing developed countries like Holland, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, France and Spain. The average ranking in the developed world was 89.7 percent. The government corruption index compares the public perception on whether government power is used to promote private interests. Israel again scored 80.8 percent, compared to an average 91.4 percent average among developed nations. Only Italy scored lower, at 74.9 percent. The law enforcement index examines various bodies' confidence in the judicial system. Israel earned 74.4 percent, far behind Spain (85 percent), France (88.9 percent) and the average for developed countries (90.3 percent). Holland led the pack at 95.2 percent, followed by the U.S. and Germany, both at 92.3 percent. The regulatory index looks into whether government policy impedes free market mechanisms and if banking regulation is effective. Israel scored lowest out of the developed nations on this parameter, at 71.9 percent compared to an average 90.6 percent. Israel posted the lowest index in political stability, at 15 percent, compared to the U.S.'s 60.7 percent, Italy's 56.3 percent or Holland, at the top of the table with 88.3 percent. BDI reported that Israel's ranking in government quality has taken a worrisome downturn since 2000. BDI attributed the deterioration to the security situation, the economic crisis and various corruption affairs from recent years. "Israel is considered one of the riskiest places in the Western world, with an unstable, inefficient regime, low accountability, a relatively high rate of state corruption and poor law enforcement," BDI said, based on the World Bank report. BDI economists noted that the low indices hamper foreign investment, raise risk premiums on financial markets and hurt resource allocation.

Would it makes sense to ship them all back Stateside? You would save a fortune. You would have plenty of well trained troops to control Iraq. No, I'm not serious but ...it is a good idea. Given a choice which would you prefer - oil or Israel? If you had the choice.

.

[PatrickHenry]

Haaretz is actually a fairly objective newspaper. Good closeup on the Israel/Palestinian relationship.

Funny that the article finds Israel corrupt as a nation. In my own personal experience I have found many Israelis in the US to have subnormal ethical standards. Most US Jews have much higher ethical standards than the Israelis I have met. I think that the Israelis are largely secular, wanting nothing to do with their faithful brothers' religion and the attendant morality... One Israeli guy I know burned me for 900 bucks...

[righthand]

Quote by: PatrickHenry Funny that the article finds Israel corrupt as a nation. In my own personal experience I have found many Israelis in the US to have subnormal ethical standards. Most US Jews have much higher ethical standards than the Israelis I have met. I think that the Israelis are largely secular, wanting nothing to do with their faithful brothers' religion and the attendant morality... One Israeli guy I know burned me for 900 bucks...

Forgive me for nitpicking but what exactly does "many Israelis in the US" mean? Are these visitors? Are they US citizens with jewish ethnicity? Or are they temporary US citizens intending to become Israeli citizens.

Millions of US citizens owe their ethnicity to a european background, none more so than the Irish. In fact it's my experience of Irish citizens, who only spend a year in the US, return 'infected' with americanism. And they never seem to recover. They're yanks for life! Most important about these millions of european background US citizens is that they are absolutely loyal US citizens.

Contrast that with your 'wandering' 'citizens'. It's not just the recent spy cases by Israeli that highlights the extraordinary relationship between the two countries. Israeli attitude seems to be "what's yours is ours and what's ours is ours, but not ours is yours" Not exactly an even relationship. This same quirk highlights the question of to which they give their first loyalty. You know the one about serving two masters. Its extraordinary in any country where it appears acceptable that a sizable minority of ones citizens owe their first loyalty to any other 'friendly' nation that also relives you of your secrets without a blush.

This loyalty is highlighted in the question of who's army they serve. It's acceptable, I believe, for your 'less loyal' citizens to serve in the IDF at your expense. Yes, at your expense. They get the same educational credits as if they served in your armed forces! Some believe that you even fight their wars for them! That could not be true, could it? I'm sure there are many who know better, but they seem to be keeping their little heads down for the time being.

A thought just struck me that may be totally off the wall. When your legislators vote those vast vast sums to support Israel, are they not just voting more money into their own deep pockets. Dont they get it back 'legitimately' in 'lobbying'!!!

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: righthand Forgive me for nitpicking but what exactly does "many Israelis in the US" mean? Are these visitors? Are they US citizens with jewish ethnicity? Or are they temporary US citizens intending to become Israeli citizens.

I'm talking about Israeli citizens who are living and working in the US.

Quote by: righthand Its extraordinary in any country where it appears acceptable that a sizable minority of ones citizens owe their first loyalty to any other 'friendly' nation that also relives you of your secrets without a blush.

I have a problem with US favoritism towards Israel. I don't think it is even handed, and I don't think it plays well on the world stage. It may be responsible for making the US a target for Muslim/Arab terror. Not excusing terror, just reasoning why.

Quote by: righthand This loyalty is highlighted in the question of who's army they serve. It's acceptable, I believe, for your 'less loyal' citizens to serve in the IDF at your expense. Yes, at your expense. They get the same educational credits as if they served in your armed forces!

You need to source this allegation.

Quote by: righthand A thought just struck me that may be totally off the wall. When your legislators vote those vast vast sums to support Israel, are they not just voting more money into their own deep pockets. Dont they get it back 'legitimately' in 'lobbying'!!!

Not sure how you mean this. I think that financial support for Israel is not based on fraud or later hopes of big lobbying fees from Israel, but on the realities of electoral politics. Those who oppose Israel find themselves marginalized and even vilified in US politics.

[monty of ll]

IMO it only makes sense if one considers that Israel is the U.S.' proxy in the M.E. That's what the U.S. is buying.

[righthand]

Quote by: PatrickHenry I'm talking about Israeli citizens who are living and working in the US.

Are they on Visas? Is it totally free movement back and forth? Is it preferential? Can they stay indefinitely? Who's army? Boy, am I intrigued. Does it apply to your neighbours? Is this law or just practice?

Quote by: PatrickHenry I have a problem with US favoritism towards Israel. I don't think it is even handed, and I don't think it plays well on the world stage. It may be responsible for making the US a target for Muslim/Arab terror.

Before Iraq, there was no doubt about this.

Quote by: PH You need to source this allegation.

I was sent an E-mail from an Israeli newspaper on July 19 2005. They obviously know something about me that I don't. I'm known to have a soft edge about good causes that I know.

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I don't know how to post here so that all can read it. I'm sure some bright spark can advise on how you can see in in glorious colour. Am I misinterpreting it? If so I apologise in advance.

Quote by: PH Not sure how you mean this. I think that financial support for Israel is not based on fraud or later hopes of big lobbying fees from Israel, but on the realities of electoral politics. Those who oppose Israel find themselves marginalized and even vilified in US politics.

It's as clear as mud to me that the "big lobbying fees from Israel" would mainly go to those politicians, who voted the money to Israel in the first place. Is there some technical hurdle in between or is this "I vote you money - you pay me back big-time and the more you vote the more you get back".

Sure "those who oppose Israel find themselves marginalized and even vilified in US politics" but where does the money come for your next election. Indeed the amount of money needed to win a US election has firmly pushed the balance between money/democracy heavily against democracy. Now it's the blandest dude with deep pockets. Thing George Galloway.

[righthand]

Quote by: monty of ll IMO it only makes sense if one considers that Israel is the U.S.' proxy in the M.E. That's what the U.S. is buying.

Right on. Who's paying for the next scandal.

[center] Israel, Palestinians agree settlement rubble deal Source: Reuters ...09 Aug 2005 20:44:16 GMT[/center] JERUSALEM, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Israel and the Palestinians announced an agreement on Tuesday on the disposal of rubble from the 21 Jewish settlements to be evacuated and destroyed in a Gaza pullout due to begin next week. "Israel will carry out preliminary demolition work and afterward a third party, apparently the World Bank, will hire private Egyptian and Palestinian companies to do the final demolition," an Israeli Defence Ministry spokeswoman said. She said the deal was reached in talks attended by Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz, Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister Mohammed Dahlan and international mediator James Wolfensohn. "Some of the debris will be recycled, while the rest will be buried in Egypt or Gaza. Any hazardous material will be transferred to Israel (for burial)," the spokeswoman said. Diana Buttu, a legal adviser to the Palestinian Authority, said after the meeting demolition would begin immediately after the settlers are evacuated.

Now they are agreeing on something for a change. Yet, my suspicion is that you'll be paying for it. And you will probably be paying for the small houses that will go in their place. The notion is that the Palestinians would not be used to or comfortable in the large Israeli houses so knocking them is the solution. I think there is a major rip off planned.

In the past we were all fed stories about Arafat's misused of funds. First, he didn't bring it with him. Secondly, with the stories recently from the WORLD Bank

[center] Israel ranks among most corrupt in West HAARETZ.Com ...By Ora Coren ...Thu., August 04, 2005 Tamuz 28, 5765[/center]

...then it was very much a case of "the kettle calling the teapot black".{Irish version} It's often the thief who is the first to call others thieves. Interesting is...

[center] Row over El Salvador Arafat park BBC News ...Tuesday, 31 May, 2005[/center] Businessmen in El Salvador have sparked a diplomatic row with Israel after renaming a city square in honour of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Israel is protesting by delaying the return of its ambassador to San Salvador, after a trip to Tel Aviv.

It's more hilarious than serious, but it is Israel - refer back to beginning.

[righthand]

In the past we were all fed stories about Arafat's misused of funds. First, he didn't bring it with him. Secondly, with the stories recently from the WORLD Bank Quote: Israel ranks among most corrupt in West http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/608423.html HAARETZ.Com ...By Ora Coren ...Thu., August 04, 2005 Tamuz 28, 5765

Israeli PM's son indicted on corruption charges http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/me...el.indictment/ Sunday, August 28, 2005 Posted: 0954 GMT (1754 HKT)

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's son Omri has been indicted on corruption charges, according to Israel's Justice Ministry. He is accused of receiving millions of dollars from various corporations in Israel and overseas, for his father's campaign in the 1999 primaries for the Likud leadership, according to the Israeli daily Ha'aretz. The amount far exceeds the limits set by Israel's Party Law, the newspaper reported.

I believe the dad is facing similar charges and it partly explains the politiacal movement.

[Hermes]

If the Isralies are so corrupt and inefficient, why is it that 7 million jooz hold 350 million sand eating slave arabs and another 100 million of their snivelling leftist lap dogs in the western world at bay...?

Israel should have been gone long ago yet is not. The western racist left and thieir arab slave masters will be gone long before Israel. Push the issue, see the light.

Sorry.

[ise]

Israel ranks as more corrupt in '06
Nov. 6, 2006 13:11 | Updated Nov. 6, 2006 17:36
By JPOST.COM STAFF

The general perception among Israelis that the government has become ever more corrupt over the years received a stamp of legitimacy Monday, as Transparency International released its 2006 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which points to the correlation between corruption and poverty.

The survey found a very high correlation between high poverty levels and perceived corruption. According to a September 2006 Peace Index poll published by Professors Ephraim Yaar and Tamar Hermann of Tel Aviv University, the Israeli public has already arrived at the same conclusions as the Transparency International findings. About three-fourths of the public - 73 percent - think many or almost all social service workers are involved in corruption. This pessimistic atmosphere apparently affects the public's view of the functioning of Israeli democracy.

COMMENTS
Corruption is far more linked to our political system than to poverty. It comes from the top down & is a reflection of the lack of accountability, transparency, & the perception that our political elite is only seeking self-interest. Add in a monstrous bureaucracy that is a strange hybrid of Middle East & Eastern European practices that intrudes into every facet of business, & this report should come as no surprise. But Israelis are bad "consumers" of gov't. and put up with it. ...Terry Brodsky - Israel ...11/06/2006 14:07

All you need to do is read the paper and see how corrupt the country is.Israel is like a banana republic it's so corrupt....mike cohen - usa ...11/06/2006 13:43


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US suffers fall in corruption ranking
MSN Money - 56 minutes ago
The US has suffered a "significant worsening" in its perceived levels of corruption following a series of business scandals and increasing worries over ...

[Atlas]

Quote by: PatrickHenry Haaretz is actually a fairly objective newspaper. Good closeup on the Israel/Palestinian relationship. Funny that the article finds Israel corrupt as a nation. In my own personal experience I have found many Israelis in the US to have subnormal ethical standards. Most US Jews have much higher ethical standards than the Israelis I have met. I think that the Israelis are largely secular, wanting nothing to do with their faithful brothers' religion and the attendant morality... One Israeli guy I know burned me for 900 bucks...

Now I see where you get your anger from

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: Atlas Now I see where you get your anger from

Nah. That's not it...nothing personal. It's a political judgement...:)

[ise]

Quote by: PatrickHenry Nah. That's not it...nothing personal. It's a political judgement...:)

and I'm sure that it is not true in ALL cases, PH.

I have said "some people would steal your water and try selling it back to you. " So, I do understand. I'm reminded of the Scorpion and the Frog yearn.

[grandpa]

Quote by: ise and I'm sure that it is not true in ALL cases, PH. I have said "some people would steal your water and try selling it back to you. "

You mean like this?
Cochabamba protests of 2000 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Grandpa h.

[ise]

Quote by: grandpa You mean like this? Cochabamba protests of 2000 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Grandpa h.

Good one. Long after OIL, we will be fighting over water, the much wasted necessity.

The Israeli Lebanon Water Wars

If the water resources in your country are rapidly decreasing, and the neighbouring country has an intact water supply... and if you think that in the future you will need the other countries water supply... then you will not attack that country saying you need their water. If you attack that country you will do so for another reason, hiding your real objective behind a wall of deception and lies. Israel has always had water problems. Today, in 2006, Israel lives with increasing water shortages and a rapidly decreasing supply of fresh water. The river Jordan may run dry within the next two years, because of the vast amount of water being drawn from the river by the people living in the area. People cannot survive without water, towns and cities cannot survive without water, past civilisations have died out as water became scarce. You cannot grow crops without water, which means you cannot store food. Water is the life blood of a nation.

The Water Wars have already started.

[ise]

UN, Lebanon Ascertain Israel Stealing Water From Lebanon
Saturday, July 22, 2000

The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and Lebanese army teams verifying border encroachments have confirmed that Israel was stealing water from Lebanon's Wazzan River near the Israeli-Lebanese border, An Nahar newspaper reported Friday. In a major transgression, water is being pumped through two four-inch pipelines into northern Israel from a station set up in the foothills of Mount Hermon, which is still under Israeli control, the teams claimed on Thursday. Brigadier General Amin Hotait, who heads the Lebanese army verification team, has demanded the cessation of this kind of invasion and called for international pressure to stop it. UNIFIL deputy commander Lieutenant General James Sreenan and Hotait have agreed to resume ground verification checks on Friday in the river region.

So, as we say in Ireland it was not today or yesterday that Israel started 'acquiring' Lebanese water.

Lebanon: Water Dispute With Israel
Published: October 8, 2002

Senior officials from the United States Embassy in Beirut met Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri to try to defuse a dispute with Israel over Lebanon's plans to use water both countries say they need. Israel has said it takes a ''grave view'' of Lebanon's plan to pipe water to southern villages from the Wazzani Springs, three miles north of the Israeli border. The springs feed the Hasbani River, a tributary of the Jordan River, which is a major source of Israel's fresh water. Lebanon says that it is within its rights under international law and that it plans to open a pumping station soon.

[Atlas]

Quote by: ise So, as we say in Ireland it was not today or yesterday that Israel started 'acquiring' Lebanese water.

If you look closely into history books, you'll see that mount Hermon (and its slopes) has been taken by Israel in the 67' war, and Lebanon has nothing to do with the matter, it is true that water from the Israeli main water sources like the sea of Galilee and the Jordan river comes from rivers in Lebanon, but it's like saying Egypt is stealing water from Sudan just because the water of the Nile flows from one country to another.

[grandpa]

Quote by: ise Long after OIL, we will be fighting over water, the much wasted necessity.

Of course, no one HAS TO fight over water unless certain groups want to dominate this resource. If someone owns the water around you they essentially own your ability to survive. Such attempts are a fundamental threat to humankind.

Grandpa h.

[PatrickHenry]

Israel stole Lebanese topsoil, too. A nation of thieves...

[shrike]

Israel stole Lebanese topsoil, too. A nation of thieves...

Any credible link to you claim?