---------- Forwarded message ---------- #Date: Fri, 17 Nov 95 16:18:55 PST #From: medic@netvision.net.il #To: shomronnews@felix.dircon.co.uk #Subject: Update 755 SNS News Service "Interior Ministry Scandal" November 19, 1995..26 Cheshvan 5756..Number 755..Update from Israel ... Following a report released by Yediot Achronot Newspaper, Interior Minister (Labor) Ehud Barak has ordered an immediate investigation into allegations of wrong-doing by senior Ministry officials. The report states that falsified ID cards and other Ministry permits are being sold to Arabs. Among those mentioned in the newspaper story is Chaim Ben-Atar, the Director of the Ministry's East Jerusalem Office, a Member of Knesset, and past members of the Mossad and GSS (Shin Bet). The Yediot report also alleges that Police officials silenced investigations over the past two years (that may have prevented terrorist attacks) for the fear of revealing names of top officials involved in the Ministry false documentation scam. The investigations involved senior officers in the IDF Civil Administration, IDF officers, senior Ministry of the Interior officials and officials in the Jerusalem Municipality. Some of the allegations: 1) In the East Jerusalem Branch of the Ministry of the Interior, Arabs that are not entitled by law may still receive ID cards, travel permits to Jordan, and other official documentation in return for cash payments or "favors". 2) Senior officials in the security service of the State have abused their connections with the east and west Jerusalem Ministry Offices, and have offered permits to travel abroad in return for cash payments. The permits were given to Arabs that would not be able to obtain them legally. 3) Interior Ministry workers have received favors and cash payments from Arab and Jewish agents in return for issuing travel documents, ID cards and passports. 4) Chaim Ben-Atar, the Director of the East Jerusalem Interior Ministry Registration Office has provided five Arab residents of Gaza with ID cards stating they live in East Jerusalem. 5) Ben-Atar also employed an Arab woman during a four-year period whose brother is a "religious fanatic activist in East Jerusalem". The Arab woman who assisted Ben-Atar has access to highly classified information. She was released from her position one year ago for "personal reasons." 6) During an investigation into wrong-doing by the past head of the Allenby Bridge crossing, information pointing to wrong-doing by other senior IDF officers and Jerusalem Municipality workers was uncovered as well. The Ministry chose not to pursue the investigation against them. The cases against them were silenced by Interior Ministry officials. (Yediot Achronot ..11/19..Page 5). ...