Bias at the Associated Press and Infocom? Tue, 25 Jul 2000 The story on 7/24/00 by Associated Press Writer Dina Kraft writing about the possible comeback and the investigation into Netanyahu is factually incorrect in two instances: the corrections are in reverse order in which they appear in her story. (her story) http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2568384731-853 ______ Ms Kraft writes: A possible charge of bribe-taking would hinder any political comeback for the telegenic politician. The police say that Netanyahu and his wife accepted favors from a contractor seeking government work, kept 700 gifts designated as state property, and tried to influence others to lie to police. Prosecutors are mulling over whether to formally charge the former prime minister. If tried and convicted of the most serious charge, obstruction of justice, Netanyahu could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison. _______ At least do some fact checking: According to LIBERAL Israeli news sources - the indictment is about to be dismissed. In a story in Ha'aretz ONE MONTH ago, the statements and allegations by the contractor (concerning the personal gifts) are starting to unravel and the prosecutor's office is about to drop the case. ___ Netanyahu contractor's testimony undermined http://store.yahoo.com/netanyahu/netcontes.html By Nicole Kraum Ha'aretz Police Correspondent Prosecutors have found evidence apparently undermining the credibility of Avner Amedi, the Jerusalem contractor who worked for Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu and entangled them in a bribery and fraud scandal. The Jerusalem district attorney noted discrepancies in comparing testimony Amedi gave police and statements he made in conversations that were wire-tapped without him knowing. Prosecutors came across the contradictions while conducting a review aimed at deciding whether to indict the former prime minister, his wife, and other suspects on charges of bribe-taking, fraud, breach of trust and obstruction of justice. A lack of reliability in Amedi's testimony is likely to delay any decision on prosecuting the Netanyahus. Police recommended at the end of March that they be indicted. Soon after the police investigation of the Netanyahu affair started, Amedi signed a state's witness agreement that would limit any punishment to communal service and grant him immunity from bribe-giving charges. Apparent irregularities in the contractor's testimony may be behind recent rumors suggesting that Jerusalem prosecutors already have decided to close the criminal file on the Netanyahus without any indictment. In the past two weeks the Jerusalem district attorney twice summoned Amedi to answer more questions about his testimony and the Netanyahu affair during several hours of questioning. Amedi's attorney Yaron Rabinovitz told Ha'aretz only that his client has been asked "to clarify matters pertaining to the investigation. End Ha'aretz - ___ Ms Kraft also writes - "Netanyahu's extraordinary prime time news conference came amid reports the former hard-line leader is considering a return to politics, after his overwhelming defeat in May 1999 elections by Ehud Barak." ___ Netanyahu was defeated by approx. 11% of the total vote - however, when one removes the nearly one million votes cast by the arab minority (20% of the population) in favor of Barak (in exchange for Barak's now revealed agreements brokered by Weizman in Egypt before the election that contained a deal to support the PLO's demands in return for their getting out the Arab vote), there is not such an "overwhelming" defeat. A few percentage points at best. ____ Either the AP writer is misinformed or HER BIAS IS SHOWING. Please tell infobeat and AP to check their facts and correct this story. Character assassination of possibly the only alternative politician to Barak is uncalled for, even by American journalists (sic). infobeat feedback is http://www.infobeat.com/main/cgi/main_merc.cgi?action=feedback&refurl=www.infobe at.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi&nc=16331 AP feedback is info@ap.org and pass this on - the media is driving the camp david "piece" agreements - silence is deadly. |
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