Tuesday, October 23, 2012

PRESS RELEASE – Petition alleges Bank of Israel Fischer patronizes criminality at Bank HaPoalim, BM עתירה לבג"ץ טוענת שנגיד בנק ישראל פישר נותן חסותו להתנהלות פלילית בבנק הפועלים בע"מ. 12-10-23


The three fundamental issues are a) Brazen conduct by the Bank, which should be deemed as a pattern of Extortion through corporate White-collar Crime, b) Sovereignty, or lack thereof, of the State of Israel, in general, and Bank of Israel- Banking Regulation, in particular, vis-a-vis their United States counterparts, and c) Integrity, or lack thereof, in Bank of Israel-Banking Regulation Consumer Complaints procedures. 
The case in the High Court of Justice of the State of Israel provides a novel perspective on the US-Israel relationship, one where the State of Israel is administered as a US corporate province, and an Israeli bank is permitted to establish and enforce on Israelis, who are "United States Persons" (according to the bank - in the State of Israel - US citizens and green card holders, but apparently not corporations), its own version of US IRS Regulations and waivers of customers' privacy to the US government. In view of widespread corruption of US banks and US banking regulation and the successive collapse of major US financial institutions, the caving in of the Israeli Banking Regulator to the US government, by permitting organized white-collar criminality in a financial institution, should raise doubts regarding integrity and stability of the Israeli financial system.


 

Stanley Fischer, Governor of the Bank of Israel; Bank HaPoalim is the largest consumer bank in Israel
        
View as PDF (Hebrew and English): http://www.scribd.com/doc/110868267/


Jerusalem, October 23 - In Zernik v Fischer (7650/12), filed today in the High Court of Justice of the State of Israel, Joseph Zernik, PhD, of Human Rights Alert (NGO), a US citizen and a resident of Jerusalem, claims that Stanley Fischer, Governor of the Bank of Israel and Israel's banking regulator has been patronizing for some time organized white-collar criminality among senior management of Bank HaPoalim, BM, the largest consumer bank in Israel. [1]
The Petition asks for a Conditional Decree (decree nisi), for Fischer to order the immediate registration of Dr Zernik's August 25, 2012 Complaint against Bank HaPoalim [2] and its overdue review.
On August 25, 2012, the Complaint was first received by Bank of Israel-Banking Regulation, but regardless of repeated requests, Bank of Israel refuses to issue a complaint number, or confirm registration of the complaint.
In the August 25, 2012 complaint against Bank HaPoalim, Dr Zernik provided evidence that the Bank issued fabricated legal papers, claiming that it was authorized and required to establish and enforce its own version of United States IRS Regulations on 'United States Persons' in the State of Israel.  With it, the Bank demanded that 'United States Persons' sign waiver of privacy for the United States government, relative to their banking transactions. 
At the same time, Bank HaPoalim refuses to provide the same customers the statements of interest gained in the customers' accounts on an annual basis, absent which IRS tax returns cannot be filed.  In addition, Bank HaPoalim apparently does not recognize Corporate Personhood - the Bank's communications refer to enforcement of IRS Regulations only on US citizens and green card holders, but not corporations, as 'United States Persons'.
Today's Petition to the High Court of Justice alleges that, "the matter at the foundation of instant Petition is blatantly unlawful conduct by executives at Bank HaPoalim… against… 'United States Persons' in the State of Israel.  Such conduct by Bank HaPoalim… shows the characteristics of organized white-collar crime.  Such conduct commenced prior to the filing of Petitioner's Complaint, and continues to this date with full knowledge and patronizing by Bank of Israel-Banking Regulation.  The ongoing refusal by [Fischer] and Bank of Israel-Banking Regulation to register the… complaint against Bank HaPoalim, BM, is integral to this state of affairs… Fischer and Bank of Israel-Banking Regulation continue to patronize simulated lawfulness, to aid and abet the conduct of Bank HaPoalim… fraud, deceit, or large-scale public deception…  undermin[ing] the sovereignty of the State of Israel. … replac[ing] his loyalty to the State of Israel and its laws with loyalty to the laws of another nation and/or the interests of a financial institution... undermin[ing] the rule of law in the State of Israel.… misprision of felonies and abuse of his office…. basic failure of banking regulation in the State of Israel, at the time that other nations suffer under socio-economic crises that originated in similar conduct by their banks and banking regulator."
Stanley Fischer, has served as Governor of the Bank of Israel since 2005 and in 2010 was named by EuroMoney 'Central Bank Governor of the Year', from 2002-5 – as  Deputy Chair at Citigroup, from 1994-2001 – in the International Monetary Fund, and from 1988-2001 – in the World Bank.
Joseph Zernik has authored in recent years reviews of large-scale fraud by banks and banking regulators in the United States, under the color of simulated legality.  His studies were published in academic peer-reviewed journals in computing and criminology. [3,4] He is a US citizen and a resident of Jerusalem since 2010.
LINKS:
[1] Joseph Zernik v Stanley Fischer (7650/12) Petition in the High Court of Justice of the State of Israel, filed October 23, 2012  (including Bank HaPoalim communications with its "US Persons" customers in English), October 23, 2012.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/110868553/
View Index of Case of the Court at: http://elyon2.court.gov.il/
[2] Zernik, J., complaint against Bank HaPoalim - for attempting to extort compliance with US IRS regulations in Jerusalem - filed with the Israeli Banking Regulator (in English), August 25, 2012.
http://es.scribd.com/doc/103922991/
[3] Zernik, J., "Large-scale fraud in US court records is linked to failing banking regulation, detailed in a paper, peer-reviewed and published in a data analytics journal", OpEdNews (2012).
[4] Zernik, Joseph, Biographical Sketch

ירושלים, אוקטובר 23- בעתירה שהוגשה היום לבג"ץ, צרניק נ פישר (7650/12),
ד"ר יוסף צרניק טוען שסטנלי פישר, נגיד בנק ישראל, נותן את חסותו מזה זמן מה לעבריינות צווארון לבן מאורגנת בקרב הנהלת בנק הפועלים, בע"מ – הבנק הגדול במדינה. [1]
העתירה מבקשת צו על תנאי:
מדוע לא יורה המשיב על בנק ישראל-הפיקוח על הבנקים, לרשום מיד ולבדוק כדין את תלונת העותר נגד בנק הפועלים בע"מ מיום ה-25 לאוגוסט, 2012?
תלונתו של ד"ר צרניק נגד בנק הפועלים, בע"מ, הוגשה והתקבלה לראשונה בבנק ישראל ב-25 לאוגוסט, 2012. אולם מאז ועד עתה מסרב בנק ישראל להנפיק מספר לתלונה ולבדוק אותה כדין.
התלונה מיום ה-25 לאוגוסט, 2012, מציגה תיעוד לגבי בדותות משפטיות, המופצות על ידי בנק הפועלים, בע"מ, ואחרים, על פיה הבנק רשאי וחייב להנהיג ולאכוף על "אנשי ארצות הברית" במדינת ישראל את גרסתו שלו לתקנות מס ההכנסה של ארצות הברית, וכן, שהבנק רשאי וחייב להנהיג ולאכוף על "אנשי ארצות הברית" במדינת ישראל ויתור על הפרטיות הבנקאית לטובת ממשלת ארצות הברית.
עוד אומרת העתירה:
לטענת העותר, העניין העומד בבסיסה של עתירה זאת הוא התנהלות בלתי חוקית בעליל של הנהלת בנק הפועלים בע"מ, ו/או תאגידים הקשורים אליו כנגד העותר ו"אנשי ארצות-הברית" אחרים במדינת ישראל.  בהתנהלותם של בנק הפועלים בע"מ ואחרים מופיעים סממנים מובהקים של עבריינות צווארון לבן מאורגנת. התנהלות זאת החלה עוד קודם להגשת תלונתו של העותר, ומתמשכת עד יום זה בידיעתו ובחסותו של בנק ישראל-הפיקוח על הבנקים. סירובם המתמשך של המשיב ובנק ישראל-הפיקוח על הבנקים לרשום את תלונתו של העותר נגד בנק הפועלים בע"מ הוא חלק בלתי נפרד ממצב עניינים זה.
הודעה נמסרה לוועדת הסכמי באזל (לבנקאות בינלאומית) ולבנקים מרכזיים של אומות שונות.
LINKS:
[1] 12-10-23 Joseph Zernik v Stanley Fischer (7650/12) Petition in the High Court of Justice of the State of Israel
[2] 12-08-25 Dr Zernik's complaint, filed with Israeli banking regulation against Bank HaPoalim - for attempting to extort compliance with US IRS regulations in Jerusalem
_____________
Joseph Zernik, PhD
< josephzernik@humanrightsalertngo.org>
Sent from "1984", Iceland-based Internet Service Provider
_____________
Human Rights Alert (NGO)   
* United States - the 2010 submission of Human Rights Alert to the Human Rights Council (HRC) of the United Nations was reviewed and incorporated in the official HRC Professional Staff Report with a note referring to “corruption of the courts and the legal profession and discrimination by law enforcement in California.”  
[1] 10-10-01 United Nations Human Rights Council Records for 2010 Review (UPR) of Human Rights in the United States, where Human Rights Alert (NGO) submission was incorporated with a note referring to "corruption of the courts and the legal profession and discrimination by law enforcement in California."
* State of Israel  - the 2012 submission of Human Rights Alert to the HRC, titled, "Integrity, or lack thereof, of the electronic record systems of the courts of the State of Israel', is scheduled for review in January 2013.
[1] 12-06-04 Human Right Alert's Submission;  2013 UPR of the State of Israel: "Integrity, or lack thereof, of the electronic record systems of the courts of the State of Israel"
_____
Human Rights Alert online:  
http://inproperinla.blogspot.com/   
Flag Counter: 145
http://www.scribd.com/Human_Rights_Alert
Total Reads: 945,129
Followers: 1,601
_____________________________
WHAT DID THE EXPERT SAY ABOUT THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CRISIS?
*  "I think it's difficult to find a fraud of this size on the U.S. court system in U.S. history," said Raymond Brescia, a visiting professor at Yale Law School who has written articles analyzing the role of courts in the financial crisis. "I can't think of one where you have literally tens of thousands of fraudulent documents filed in tens of thousands of cases." Reuters (Jan 22, 2012)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/79572282/
* “Foreclosure fraud: The homeowner nightmares continue” CNN (April 7, 2011)
* 
“About 3 million homes have been repossessed since the housing boom ended in 2006… That number could balloon to about 6 million by 2013” Bloomberg (January 2011)
* 
"...a system in which only the little people have to obey the law, while the rich, and bankers especially, can cheat and defraud without consequences." Prof Paul Krugman, MIT (2011)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/50753639/
_____________________________

  

Saturday, October 20, 2012

12-10-21 Latvian on the Spaceship!



October 21, 2012 8:11 AM

12-10-20 RT: Beirut blast video: Massive explosion brings down entire street


RussiaToday uploaded a video 1 day ago

Beirut blast video: Massive explosion brings down entire street

12-10-20 Gaza-bound ship Estelle intercepted by Israeli forces


Gaza-bound ship Estelle intercepted by Israeli forces

Israeli marines board the Estelle and direct it to port of Ashdod as 30 activists on board attempt to break Gaza blockade
Israeli forces intercepted the Estelle as it tried to break the Gaza blockade
The Estelle set sail from Naples two weeks ago intending to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. Photograph: -/AFP/Getty Images
Israeli forces have intercepted a boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists seeking to breach the naval blockade on Gaza.

12-01-20 Dispatch from Zion Square: Advance Hassidic dancing by Rabb Daniel


http://youtu.be/XYV84wnbdhU

12-10-20 Dispatch from Tel-Aviv: Kikar HaBimah - most beautiful public space in Israel













Tel-Aviv, October 19 - the square is based on modern foundation, with a unique combination of Middle-Eastern and Japanes motives, particularly in the sunk garden, on the backdrop of 1960s apartment buildings.  In the front of the Square, facing Rothschild Avenue, there are two blights (not shown in the photographs). The pretentious, rusty one would take a civil war to have removed...

The square is paved, and people sit on the floor in groups, just as seen in Barcelona.  There were a lot more people in the square than shown in the pics, but Israelis are apprehensive about being photgraphed, and may react in a rather agressive manner, when they believe that they were photographed, even if they were not.  Teen-age boy go skate boarding.  Unique to Israel - a group of teen-age girls were showing off in gymnastic somersaults, including one girl in a stylish tutu/mini skirt.

The gardening is the centerpiece of the square. In the sunk garden groups of people sit and talk, some picnic.  A group of 30 year olds were drinking wine in wine glasses!  The classic-pop soft music, pumped from under the Japanese style wooden benches surrounding the garden was a bit much for me, but then again, I may be in the minority in such opinion.  The design of the garden combines a Japanese look, particularly in the part that ends with a beautiful sandbox for kids to play in.  The center appears more along the design of the Middle-Easter formal garden and a Bustan.  The collection of plants near the sandbox appears like it could come for a beachfront house, not far from here, some 100 years ago.  The garden appears manicured, but overall, my guess is that it is relatively low maintanence and low on watering needs.  

The other extreme that comes to mind is probably the formal garden in the Getty Center in Los Angeles.  Plants are placed there with no match at all to the sun or water conditions. Accordingly, the Getty garden has a full time curator, which constantly replaces the plants on display, as they die out... The Getty is not a public space either, and cynics say that the whole museum was built as a venue for private cocktail parties.

The design and atmosphere in Kikar HaBimah, which has been renovated a number of times over the years, stands in stark contrast with public spaces in Jerusalem, of the same vinage.

12-10-20 Naples - demonstration in support of Estelle

Photo: In corteo per le vie di Napoli! Per gridare la nostra solidarieta' all'Estelle e denunciare l'ennesima brutalita' dello stato terrorista di Israele!

12-10-20 Hello World!

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Friday, October 19, 2012

12-10-20 The US is "slipping closer to a police state"... WRONG! it is already there - the case of Alexa O'Brien and NDAA


A letter to my family and friends about the NDAA and me.

| 24 Comments |  | 
avatar.jpgDear friends and family,
I am reassured to know that you have my back, and that you have done everything to prevent the US Government fromthreatening to detain me indefinitely without charge for my work as a journalist and citizen.
I am not one for cultivating an exaggerated sense of self-importance. I think it takes more character and courage to live in reality. Anybody who knows me personally, knows that if this can happen to me, it can and will happen to you or someone you know.
Since January 2011, I have covered the WikiLeaks release of US State Department Cables, JTF memoranda known as the 'GTMO files', and revolutions across Egypt, Bahrain, Iran, and Yemen, as well as the legal proceedings against Bradley Manning and the US investigation into WikiLeaks. I have interviewed a preeminent US foreign policy expert on the Cambodia cables, and published hours of interviews with former GTMO guards, detainees, defense lawyers, and human rights activists, as well as WikiLeaks media partners: Andy Worthington, a GTMO historian and author, and Atanas Tchobanov, the Balkanleaks' spokesman and co-editor of Bivol.bg.
Why do I do this work? Because it moves me deeply. Because I am compelled to learn and to understand. The positive results of some of my work also grants me a sense of common purpose in service to my fellow man/woman.
When the US Government said in Federal Court that they would not guarantee that I would not be indefinitely detained without charge under Section 1021 of the National Defense Authorization Act FY2012 for articles I had written on the 'War on Terror', you set aside partisanship. You realized that what is as stake is more than an election. What was at stake is the safety of your friend, your daughter, a fellow citizen or journalist, as well as this nation and people across the globe. The NDAA, after all, was passed with bi-partisan support, and signed into law by President Obama.
Court: These people have real things they are saying. These are not speculative or hypotheticals. These are people who have actually written articles that we have here. [The Court then held up the articles written by O'Brien and marked as Court Ex. 3.] We are trying to figure out, are these articles going to subject Ms. O'Brien to risk under § 1021? . . . .
Government: Again, I'm not authorized to make specific representations regarding specific people. I'm saying that 'associated forces' cannot extend to groups that are not armed groups at all.
Court: So we don't know about the articles, it depends?
Government: Maybe they are an armed group.
Judge Forrest wrote:
"O'Brien has written a series of articles already--some of which relate to al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or "associated forces" no matter how defined. The Government was unwilling to state at the hearing that O'Brien would not be detained under § 1021 for her expressive conduct in regard to those articles. Moreover, O'Brien testified that she has withheld at least two articles from publication because of her concerns regarding the potential for her expressive conduct in those articles to render her a "covered person" under §1021 and thereby subject her to military detention."
Section 1021 of the NDAA FY2012 allows for the indefinite detention without charges or trial of anyone, including American citizens, who are deemed by the US Government to be terrorists or terrorist sympathizers. The institutions of civil society - the press and civic square - are now what our military terms an information environment in a global theater of war. The 'War on Terror', our military says, is fought with intelligence and information. And, the US Government has already detained journalists at Guantanamo Bay under the AUMF seeking to gain intelligence on media organizations. The President has already played a personal role in the imprisonment of a journalistcovering the US 'War on Terror' in Yemen.
When Government contractors falsely linked a group, which I helped found - whose only purpose is to support campaign finance reform in the United States - to Al Qaeda, you were outraged.
When I was sent messages by a Government contractor saying that I was now associated with Al Qaeda and so called 'cyber-terrorists', you spoke out.
When emails revealed that other private security contractors with ties to the US Government were "specifically asked to connect" the group that I helped found "to any Saudi or other fundamentalist Islamic movements," you took action.
When US Department of Homeland Security bulletins declared in error that a group that I helped found was linked to so called 'cyber-terrorists', you contacted your representative and presidential candidate and expressed that their support of Section 1021 of the NDAA FY2012 had the consequence of your lack of support for their candidacy.
I am especially grateful to those individuals, including a fellow journalist, who warned me privately that there were other unpublished US Government documents and that US Government agents were focusing their sights on me. They cautioned me to take special care. They understood the consequences for me.
Citizenship is a public office, but who among us can risk engaging in the body politic authentically, when we have families to provide for? Who can risk publishing about the workings of Government, our alliances, and wars when you might end up in my position?
No matter what your party affiliation, Section 1021 of the NDAA FY 2012 violates the First and Fifth Amendments to the US constitution, the principles that safeguard the independence of our republic and any real freedom or lasting security for our citizens and all peoples.
If this could happen to someone like me, it can and will happen to someone like you or someone you know. None of us can afford that risk. Do something now.
Best regards,
Alexa O'Brien

12-10-19 Gaza blockade


Chomsky in first visit to Gaza: End the blockade

The Jewish-American intellectual and staunch critic of Israel is in Gaza to attend a conference at Gaza's Islamic University over the weekend.


READ MORE:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/chomsky-in-first-visit-to-gaza-end-the-blockade.premium-1.470901


Seven parliamentarians from five European countries are on sailing on the sloop "Estelle" to break the Israeli Blockade of Gaza. Among the 20+ passengers are parliamentarians from Greece, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and a retired parliamentarian from Canada. The "Estelle" is expected to reach Gaza by this weekend.
READ MORE:

12-10-19 US body politic, left right and center, is getting ready for a civil war...

The latest:
Watching what's going on in America today is like reliving the years preceding the destructive Civil War of the 1860's in which the seething anger and great dissension between opposing factions finally reached a boiling point and erupted into extreme violence. It's as if that dissension that tore America apart became embedded in this nation's psyche and has now resurfaced in this society.

READ MORE:

12-10-19 Hello World!


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