Josh Breiner
@JoshBreiner · Israeli journalists — political, diplomatic, legal
Josh Breiner is Haaretz's police and internal-security correspondent.
My heart aches. Gur Megiddo is a fearless, hungry, brave, professional journalist who has done amazing work that inspires appreciation and also envy. His departure from the profession is a holiday for the corrupt and the schemers who operate in the gray area and push our country a little further downhill every day. Thank you, Gur, for everything. We carry on.
Translated from HebrewOfer Winter's daughter filed a complaint with the police this week after seeing a car with 3 suspicious people near her home. The police investigated and this week summoned one of them, who turned out to be a private investigator. After giving a statement, he was released without any restrictive conditions after it was determined that he had not committed any offense. Who sent him? I don't know yet, maybe someone who is afraid of Winter. Know anyone like that?
Translated from HebrewThat said, it’s amazing how Ofer Winter simply drives them crazy.
Translated from HebrewThis is an interesting article about Ben Gvir, the police commissioner, an officer Ben Gvir is pleased with, and more, but also simply a wonderful photo of the excellent Olivia Pitusi.
Translated from HebrewBen Gvir tells everyone that the reason for the fight with the police commissioner is the appointment of an officer who is “close to the legal adviser.” But here’s what happened at the last appointments hearing: an officer Ben Gvir wanted to promote did not get the rank, so Ben Gvir hurried to issue a letter saying that appointments were forbidden. But guess what? Half an hour later, the officer was approved after all, even before the discussion about that female officer had taken place at all... What did Ben Gvir do? He sold everyone on the idea that it was because of that female officer. Tamar Liberty. It’s all complete bullshit, in short. The police commissioner wants to show the next minister that he is independent, so he grew a backbone ahead of the elections, and Ben Gvir? He’s just continuing to destroy the police. By the way, do you realize that the police commissioner says Ben Gvir’s conduct endangers the police and the public? Hmmmmmm, sounds familiar. No doubt, good job, Itamar!
Translated from HebrewPolice Intelligence and Investigations Division chief Boaz Balat stood out in an address to his officers: “Every citizen and police officer has an inner compass; the difference between us lies in the strength of the inner magnetic needle. In how much it continues to strive toward the North Star and does not glance right or left according to the winds of the moment. That is the required standard.” In an era when officers advance according to how much they flatter Ben Gvir, you no longer hear statements like these. We must save the Israel Police.
Translated from HebrewThis is a new record: Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was *convicted* of supporting a terrorist organization, and his lawyer Ze’ev Wolf, who was *convicted* of murdering a 65-year-old Palestinian as part of the Kahane Chai movement and received a pardon, are asking to disqualify the Ra'am party on the grounds that it supports terrorist organizations. Tell me, don't they have mirrors over there on the far right?
Translated from HebrewWhat you need to know about the cockfight between Ben Gvir and the police commissioner: one continues to destroy the police and sell headlines, while the other wants to impress the next national security minister. Both mainly want to promote their favorites. And the public? It will continue to suffer. Israel Police must be saved.
Translated from HebrewNo one is talking about it, but the biggest winner the day after the lists closed is Moshe Feiglin. The man who came from the delirious fringes of the far right, believes that every baby in Gaza is an enemy, opposed the COVID vaccines, thinks that the Shin Bet knew about Yigal Amir and decided to go along with it, as on October 7, and holds other conspiracy theories, is now in second place on the Religious Zionism list, on the guaranteed path to the Knesset and perhaps the next government. He wants to be defense minister, yes? And afterward we talk about the rise of the far right in Europe. It is here, among us.
Translated from HebrewAnd what is truly the most humiliating? That Avi Dichter, even after turning himself into a doormat, even after humiliating himself for Sara Netanyahu, even after all the sycophancy, after you sold all your values, all your friends, even after the slap in the face he received in the primaries—not even yesterday did he get a reserved slot from Netanyahu. You were a human being, the head of the Shin Bet, and today? Today you are a walking disgrace. And because you love Arabic proverbs so much, come on, just the way you like them, you know what I mean: whoever sells his conscience sells himself. Salamtak, Abu Nabil.
Translated from HebrewHaaretz report: The Rabin Center in Tel Aviv refused to host a conference of the Ministry of National Security because Itamar Ben-Gvir was participating as the keynote speaker
Translated from HebrewWhoa, whoa, whoa, I don't want to stir things up, but does anyone know why Eli Goldschmidt, the Likud's new heavyweight, is talking about Netanyahu like this? "You want to be Churchill. If you had been Churchill in England during World War II, people in England would still be speaking German today, and the remnant of European Jewry would have been murdered too." Harsh words, Eli. Good luck!
Translated from HebrewI don't want to stir things up, but does anyone know why the Likud's new reserved candidate, Eli Goldschmidt, attacks Mrs. Sara Netanyahu, talks to her like this, and supports Brothers in Arms? "This only proves that you and your family are not democrats, you want a dictatorship," he says in this video in December '23, "You are a public figure and funded by the taxpayer!" Words of wisdom, Eli. Good luck!
Translated from HebrewThe prime minister's circle continues to bullshit about what happened with Netanyahu on October 7. Now Topaz Luk says that Netanyahu arrived at the Kirya even *before* 8 in the morning. Bullshit. Nonsense. According to the schedule Netanyahu's own office published, he only left Caesarea at 8 in the morning. They know it too: Netanyahu fell asleep. He didn't wake up - and then we woke up to October 7.
Translated from HebrewWhat’s embarrassing is that Oren Dobronsky still tells people that he will be Israel’s AI minister. My suggestion: not everything is high-tech. Sometimes, Oren, you should simply read the law. Really read it, yourself. It prevents a lot of embarrassments.
Translated from HebrewThe truth being revealed is simple: For 10 months they tried to wake him up, shout at him, and now it has also been revealed that they warned him. But Netanyahu did not wake up, and we awoke to October 7.
Translated from HebrewA shocking revelation in the Haaretz supplement: Netanyahu received a warning days before October 7 from the president of the United Arab Emirates and did not update the chiefs of the IDF and Shin Bet. 1Netanyahu's office denies it. Netanyahu did not wake up.
Translated from HebrewA family approached me with a bizarre story involving the police. Last July, they found their brother dead in his apartment in a kibbutz in the Hefer Valley. A 65-year-old Jewish man. No suspicion of criminal wrongdoing. Sad. They identified him; his wallet was there with his documents. This is the man. But what? Since then, the police have refused to allow him to be buried. Since July! The body has been lying at Abu Kabir. The claim: They cannot identify him. What? So the siblings provided DNA and blood samples and handed over whatever was needed. They say to the police: This is our brother, let us bury him. The police refuse. Absurd. I contacted the police, which stated: "Since the body was located, investigative actions and a number of professional examinations have been carried out in an effort to achieve its certain identification; however, to date, it has not been possible to complete scientific identification as required. In these circumstances, and after exhausting the actions that could be carried out for the purpose of identification, the recommendation of the professional authorities to release the body was forwarded, and it is currently undergoing a review and approval process in accordance with procedures". Since July, a family has been begging to bury their brother. Absurd.
Translated from HebrewHaaretz exposé: Hanamel’s trips to Singapore. After the death-penalty law for terrorists was approved, a secret delegation including Hanamel Dorfman and senior officials from the Israel Prison Service went to Singapore, one of the few Western countries that executes prisoners by hanging. Singapore also imposed sanctions on Dorfman’s associate and father-in-law, Bentzi Gopstein.
Translated from HebrewWhat you need to know about Ben Gvir and Otzma Yehudit's Knesset list: this is number 8. And yes, it's a tattoo of a terrorist organization that he votes for. Oh, and number 1 was convicted of supporting a terrorist organization.
Translated from Hebrew"Ugh, my love, you’re going to be proud of my shift! They’re performing CPR right now, baby! With God’s help, the son of a thousand whores will die. There was a lot of blood and they beat them up... There’s so much blood in the wings... Wow, they’re performing CPR on a prisoner because of the beatings we gave him. He’s dead". Behind the scenes at Ketziot Prison. How is the commander of this prison still in the Israeli Prison Service?
Translated from HebrewI’m being told in my ear that Channel 14 panelist Bezalel Yaakov is expected to get somewhere around 10th place in Otzma Yehudit. Waiting in suspense. Other names slated for the list: our acquaintance David Bavli and Be’er Sheva city council member Gadi Mazuz. Oh, oh, and also Hanamel. Wow, what a list, wow wow. Bavli, just don’t get upset. Come calmly.
Translated from HebrewViolence and abuse as routine at Ketziot Prison: This is a WhatsApp exchange between a female guard and her friend from December 2023: Guard: Long story short, listen, a few whores, sons of Amalek, surrendered there in the middle of the street. I’m already getting myself and the shift ready to receive them; we’ll give them a proper Shabbat welcome" Friend: Is your club in working order? Guard: My club, after quite a number of disinfecting sessions. Ufff, imagine you and me in the partition with two prisoners handcuffed hand in hand, and the shift commander says to us, 'Take them, go wild', I swear on my mother, you would have enjoyed it here with me. Friend: What, seriously, you hit them? Physically? Guard: Ugh, I wish I had a way to prove it to you, to show you something. I swear to you, sis, I tear them apart. You’ve never known me like this in your life. May my period come no matter what; if I haven’t broken one of his kidneys, then as far as I’m concerned I’m not letting him into the wing."
Translated from HebrewHello, it’s me again about Yonatan Shalev. The placement of this guy won’t let me rest. How? What for and why? Young people matter. Let him give it his all. But before Nisan Ze’evi? Naor Shiri? Bliak? What is going on here. These elections are far too fateful for arranging jobs for someone’s children. It’s not too late.
Translated from HebrewThe police are calling me now. About 4 months ago, I filed a complaint about threats from someone who had been harassing me for a long time. As it happened, the incident was also recorded by the security cameras of a nearby store, and I downloaded it to my phone immediately after it happened. A month ago, they suddenly called out of nowhere and asked me to come give a statement. I came. They sent me a link to open on my phone so I could send them the video. I refused. With all due respect, I am careful about these things, especially when it comes to the direct subject of my reporting, who would have been happy to get access to my phone. Instead, I sent the investigator the video on WhatsApp. Great. Now they called and insist that I transfer the video to them through a link they will send me. I refused, of course. I explained the reason as well. I offered to come in person again and give them the video on a USB drive. They refuse that too. “That is not possible,” the investigator told me. I ended the call hoping that the police will manage to overcome the complicated technological obstacle and agree to receive the video from me in person. Again I offered to send it any way possible: on WhatsApp, by email, on a diskette, floppy. They are not willing. Someone has to save the Israel Police.
Translated from Hebrew
Connected stories
- Ofer Winter Submits 18-Member People of Israel Slate, Rules Out Merger
- Candidate-List Registration Closes for Israel’s October 27 Election
- Likud Secretariat Approves Netanyahu’s Reserved Slate as Avivi Withdraws
- Netanyahu’s Office Says He Ordered Full Mobilization at 9:55 on October 7
- Oren Dobronsky Drops Likud Knesset Bid, Says He Prefers AI Ministry
- Bennett Says He Knows UAE Warning to Netanyahu Was Genuine
- UAE Leader Warned Netanyahu of Hamas Move Before October 7, Report Says