Ynet released a short report and Haaretz a longer one, based on information provided to them by the secret police about the arrest of a smuggling ring that included Micha Peretz, who I reported two weeks ago was secretly detained by them for unspecified crimes. At the time, I correctly surmised that the charges against him related to Gaza tunnels. The current reports don’t mention him by name, but they do say the detainee is from Mivtahim, Peretz’s home.
The Shabak claims Peretz, with the support of two unnamed Israeli, and several Palestinian partners, supplied “tens” of truckloads of metals and other fabrication materials that could be used to restore the tunnels destroyed during Operation Protective Edge. The three were purportedly paid by a Gaza contractor nearly $500,000 per month for their role in supplying and shipping the material. Peretz’s role was to store materials in his warehouse near the border, where they were kept until they were re-loaded on trucks that made their way to the Kerem Shalom border crossing. What makes no sense is that this crossing is heavily guarded precisely to prevent such smuggling of prohibited material. How could tens of trucks have succeeded in hauling tens of tons of contraband metals into Gaza?
Further, the items transported to Gaza weren’t exactly small or easy to conceal. There were no mini-chips or nanotechnology. We’re talking miles of pipes and similar equipment. You can’t hide this stuff. It’s there in plain site. So if they succeeded in smuggling dangerous materials into Gaza (which is questionable) then the security personnel didn’t catch what should’ve been in plain sight.
Further, the police acknowledge that the detainees conducted legitimate business hauling similar materials to Gaza. But somehow these materials were classified as “military use,” whereas the other materials were not. Shabak also claims that the defendants also knew they were providing materials to Hamas. Though given that there was a Gazan middleman who received the goods before they were distributed in Gaza, it’s entirely possibly they didn’t know. At least didn’t know explicitly. Frankly, given the gravity of the charges and the severity with which the Israeli security apparatus would look upon these alleged acts, I strongly doubt any Israeli would knowingly traffic with Hamas. Despite the money to be made, it couldn’t possibly be worth the risk of going away to prison for years and bankrupting one’s family with legal fees.
The group is accused of making contact with an “enemy organization” and money-laundering to avoid paying taxes on their profits. Unfortunately, but typically, Ynet made no attempt to contact the suspect’s lawyer or family (as I have done repeatedly). It merely accepted the word of the secret police as to the guilt of the charged party.
Peretz’s son told me that his father is innocent and the victim of persecution. He told me that his father had served in the IDF and contributed widely for the betterment of his community. I have tried to interview him repeatedly and an uncle as well. But they’ve refused to speak beyond those few words. The moshav of Mivtahim responded with anger to Peretz’s alleged “betrayal” of both them and the State. I fear for his family in such circumstances.
News1 says that Peretz was moved to solitary confinement after he threatened to commit suicide. Note, that this is precisely what happened to Ben Zygier. He was placed in solitary confinement and did commit suicide.
None of the Israeli reporting on this story credits me with breaking the original story. Now, the NY Times has published a story, but also neglected to credit my original reporting of it. Thanks for nothing Isabel Kershner. Par for the course.
Richard says, ”Shabak also claims that the defendants also knew they were providing materials to Hamas.” “…it’s entirely possibly they didn’t know. At least didn’t know explicitly.”
Not according to YNet, who said that the defendants were explicitly warned.
“The businessmen had been warned by the Defense Ministry that a resident of Gaza with who they were in contact had an association with the terrorist group.”
My best guess is, that an undercover SB agent warned the Israelis, but greed got the better of them.
@ Victor: Yes, I know they were supposedly warned. But you’ll note none of the article contain even a reference to contact with a source representing the defendants. A grotesque journalistic gaffe. I’m curious that way, I like to hear from boths sides before rendering a judgment. I know that’s not done in Israel. But we here in the west have quaint, old-fashioned standards. Humor us, would you?
” I like to hear from boths sides before rendering a judgment”
Richard, I’m an American defense attorney and I don’t like gag orders any more than you.
If queried, my guess is that the defendants attorneys would say, ‘My client’s are innocent of all charges’.
@ Victor: If you are a defense attorney, what would you prefer? An article in the media which doesn’t quote you regarding your client and whose author never bothered to try to contact you; or a reporter who did call you & ask for comment?
I’m not satisfied with your inference that it’s OK the attorney wasn’t mentioned because we all know what he would say. That’s ridiculous & I think you know it.
As per JPost, “Despite getting officially warned by the security establishment that Zuarov was officially banned and to cease selling to him, the defendants used straw man Gaza companies”.
Osama Zuarov is a major Hamas buyer and operative,officially banned by Israel in terms of trade.
Like I commented earlier. Greed.
@ Victor: And you know Zuarov is a “major Hamas buyer” how? A little Shabak birdie told you so? The truth is that at one time Zuarov was an approved buyer. THen later he may’ve become unapproved. Neither you nor I know anything about what happened & why. It could be Zuarov was recruited to be a Shabak agent and declined. That would be enough to turn him into a Hamas buyer for sure.
“None of the Israeli reporting on this story credits me with breaking the original story. Par for the course.”
I was referred to your story through a link in a talkback on “Velvetunderground”, a Hebrew language blog appering in Israel.
@ Yitzhak: Thanks for letting me know this. I was referring to Israel’s mainstream media and not blogs. Dvorit & I have known each other for some time & I tell her when I break stories.
Just now on Arutz 2 news “the defendants said they didn’t know it went to Hamas” but they admit to smuggling it in. One of them said on video “I was looking for the money”.
After being warned about exactly that, this line of defense is extremely weak.
@ Ariel: I didn’t know you were an attorney. Since you aren’t I think we’ll dismiss your claims about which lines of defense are weak. The truth is the defendants had permits to transport goods to Gaza. They confirm they didn’t know the goods were going to Hamas (which is a claim the secret police haven’t proven, btw).
The thought occurs to me that the intelligence apparatus may be seeking to destroy any Israeli commercial interaction with Gaza. What better way than criminalize those Israelis who are involved?
I wonder if Victor is a brand new Hasbarista or an old one recycled.
And why would an American defense attorney spend time here ? And is he paid for defending The-Only-Democracy ? Who knows, maybe it’s Alan Dershowitz ….
Alan Dershowitz is a buffoon who needs to butt out of the I/P conflict altogether. He’s Israel’s worst advocate.