Ten years ago in the early hours of a July morning on a Tel Aviv street, two people had a fateful encounter. For one, it meant everything. For the other, it meant nothing. Gal Beck was a happy 16 year-old boy riding home on a motor scooter with his best friend by his side on another scooter. It was early Saturday morning around 3 AM. They stopped at an intersection for a red light and chatted for a bit. Then the light turned green. Gal started first, then his friend followed.
At the same moment a 20 year-old woman barreled into the intersection from the opposite direction. By the accounts of most witnesses she was speeding, traveling nearly 60 mph. She ran the red light and crashed into Gal. The accident killed him. His friend wasn’t injured at all, but lives to this day with the shattering memory of what happened that night.
Neither of the boys were drinking. Neither had taken drugs or were using prescription medication. That much we know. But until now, we knew almost nothing about the driver who killed Gal. No Israeli knows her name. The case was closed six weeks after the accident “for lack of evidence.” This happened despite the fact that numerous witnesses testified to the police that the driver was speeding and that she ran the red light. Either no blood alcohol test was ever done or none appears in the police record.
There was a single witness, a female taxi driver, who testified in complete contradiction to all the other witnesses that the boys ran the red light and that the light was green when the driver crossed into the intersection. Channel 1 TV aired a documentary (video above) on the case recently in which it interviewed the taxi driver for 90 minutes, and no less than 20-30 times she affirmed before a hidden camera that the driver ran the red light and the boys had a green light. The next night, when the camera crew approached her for an actual interview, appearing coached and well-rehearsed, she reverted to the story in the police record which blamed Gal Beck and his friend for the accident.
The driver testified to the police that she was traveling 30 mph and that she was absolutely certain it was green when she entered the intersection.
Such tragic accidents happen everywhere, in Israel and around the world. In many such places there are miscarriages of justice like the one that occurred here. But there are several aspects of this case that cause it to rise to greater significance. First, the driver, whose identity is concealed under gag order, was the daughter of a wealthy, powerful and well-connected Israeli family. Second, the Tel Aviv chief prosecutor, Ruth David, who heard the case was later accused of massive corruption in her handling of several key organized crime cases after she left the prosecutor’s office. After leaving office she moved to a defense firm run by a powerful mob-connected attorney, Ronel Fisher, who also was accused of bribery and corruption and colluding with her on these cases.
The Fisher-David case made front-page headlines in Israel. Crooked cops, crooked prosecutors, and crooked defense attorneys colluding on behalf of Mafiosi. It’s the stuff of Hollywood films. But the screaming headlines ignore the quiet trauma of a mother and father who lost a beloved son. The best friend who watched him die. And witnesses beset by guilt who wondered why they were never questioned by police. These are the plain simple people who are victims of a corrupt system. They don’t have the power or influence to make the system work for them. They take what comes and hope for the best even when they know something is wrong, but that they can’t fix it. Imagine the helplessness of Oded and Ruthie Beck in the face of a justice system serving the interests of the 1%, Israel’s powerful oligarchic families.
Though Israelis may not be told the identity of the young woman who took Gal Beck’s life, you can. She is Shani Palti-Schulz, now age 30. When Channel 1 called her to talk about the accident she professed not to remember. Then she said she had no interest in discussing it. In the past 24 hours, she’s deleted her Facebook account, which used to display the accompanying portrait of her scarfing down a yummy burger. No such pleasures for Gal.
Life has been good to Shani. She’s the daughter of Nadav Palti (his bio), the CEO of Dori Media, one of Israel’s most successful television production companies. Recently, he was the chairman for the International Emmy awards.
She married into the family which owns one of Israel’s most lavish catering companies. It entertains the wealthiest of Israel’s families: does their weddings, their bnai mitzvah, their corporate events.
The wedding was covered in the society pages, and even in the sober business publication, Calcalist. There was no mention of any blemish in the bride’s past. All was sweetness and light.
That’s the way life goes for Israel’s 1%. They are protected from their evil deeds. They have connected lawyers who do God knows what to get beloved daughters like Shani off. Bribe witnesses? Very possibly. Bribe police commanders? Possibly. Even bribe chief prosecutors? Why not?
Unfortunately, the documentary did not delve into the corruption that resulted in Gal’s case being closed so abruptly. It didn’t question Ruth David. It didn’t investigate whether corruption played a role. It should have. But in Israel those powerful families have lawyers who threaten defamation suits which could drag on for years and bankrupt media companies. Better not to go there if it can be helped.
But thankfully, we can do what Israeli media may not. We can offer a scintilla of light and justice to the family. We can offer Israelis what should be theirs by right: knowledge and information.
Family and friends of Gal have launched a Facebook page calling for the reopening of his case.
The Channel 1 TV documentary looks like a melodramatic, tear jerking hatchet job. Too much pathos for my American sensibilities.
BTW. We all know that nothing is going to happen to the driver.
There may well have been an injustice right after the accident, but nothing will come of that either.
Some forums in Israel report that she left to England.
Most of the article is great but your comment “There was no mention of any blemish in the bride’s past” is troublesome. No one knew the case was closed b/c of crooks in the police and prosecution. So what? They should mention an accident in which she did nothing wrong? How cruel is that? Should we now remind everyone the misdeeds b/c they might have been exonerated unjustly?
Some of your exposures are important (Hashem Sha’aban al-Sayyed for example) but others just seems to be some form of shaming.
@James: “She did nothing wrong?” She killed a 16 yr old boy. And she wasn’t “exonerated.” The crime was barely investigated. As for shame, there’s much to go around in this case. Your comment is but one part of it.
Closing the case was probably a crime in which Ruth David had a share. But are seriously you suggesting adding any past suspicion to a wedding announcement?
This is recipe for a great society.
@james: It wasn’t a “wedding announcement.” It was an article in a major business paper.
A family member (supposedly) have threatened with a lawsuit an Israeli blogger who also published the details.
http://eranvered.com/blog/?p=2904#comment-11469
According to that blog the case is no longer triable since 11.7.2015 as it has התישן (can’t remember the word in English)
Maybe they can still bring a civil case?
@Shmuel
Run the ‘statute of limitations’
Or, ‘latches’ in a civil suit, I believe.
The clock starts ticking from then the case was closed. Not the accident.
@Shmuel: How can there be a statute of limitations in a case involving death?
Not that I agree with it, however, in the US, there is a federal statute of limitations of 5 years for involuntary manslaughter – which is usually the charge for death caused by reckless driving.
@ michael: “Federal?” Driving deaths aren’t a federal crime.
Involuntary manslaughter appears in both Federal and State legislation.
Federal involuntary manslaughter has a statute of limitations of 5 years, states vary.
Vehicular deaths are often tried under involuntary manslaugther and being rich will get you out scott free in the US as well
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/11/us/texas-teen-dwi-wreck/
The difference is that being rich in Israel will ALWAYS get you off. Not so in the U.S.
False. Just look up the case of Dori Calgsblad.
Powerful attorney, vehicular manslaughter. 13 months in prison.
@ Michael: So Israeli justice worked in one case. Shall we examine every case Ruth David prosecuted to determine how many hundreds of them were perverted by her corruption? The chief prosecutor of Tel Aviv. Not some assistant DA working in a cubicle. The top dog. Working with the other corrupt top dogs in the police.
Seriously, you want to debate which political/justice system is more corrupt?
Two minutes worth of “former judge / district attorney sentenced” yields thousands of hits.
Do you really want to analyze white/non white “justice” in the US?
Do you really want to analyze rich vs. poor justice in the US?
Do you really believe a former president, PM, finance minister, mayors etc., would even be tried in the US for charges that they are brought to trial, sentenced and imprisoned for in Israel?
Yes, corruption exists. It’s difficult to weed out. Just look at your own city.
http://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=1006097#.VaSe6F8w99A
http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/former-murray-county-judge-sentenced-five-years-federal-prison
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/washington/2015/07/13/Former-Washington-County-judge-Paul-Pozonsky-sentenced-for-stealing-evidence/stories/201507130130
@ Michael: I don’t need to “debate” which system is more corrupt. It’s yours hands down. We have 365 million people in this country. You have 7 million. If we had 50 times the corruption & dysfunction Israel has we’d have long ago disintegrated into a miasmic mess of a country. As it is, we’re holding on pretty well. As for Israel, not so much.
The US has a population of approximately 325 million not 365
Israel has a population of 8.4 million not 7
So the ratio is 1 to 38.5 and not 1 to 50.
You have more than enough corruption and dysfunction of your own – and in your own city’s police department and public works department (your state appears to be doing fairly well).
Most countries are a miasmic mess – it just depends how much involvement with “government” is actually required on a day to day basis.
You know James, on some level it’s understandable that you get your panties in a bind over the things that Richard reports. Clearly you see the exposure of such information as being damaging to the security of the state. You’re wrong but I’m willing to concede that you come by your misconceptions honestly, what with all the Kool-Aide your quaffing. That being said, what’s the “national security interest” here? Furthermore what’s your vested interest in running interference for this pos? What? You pick up a stipend for blowing smoke up everyone’s ass? Lol
Shoded Yam, you don’t need to be a christian to be able to forgive, not to mention, not to keep reminding a person of a past suspicion. This case should defiantly be re-examined and go to trial but between that and blaming the press for not mentioning a dismissed suspicion is a big difference.
My post has nothing to do with security. Richards write that comments are for “education, ideas, humor, criticism–everything that makes up a full-throated discussion”.
Listen, James. I’m a 51 year old man. Go sell the Mother Teresa shtick to the Birthright kids when they get off the plane at Ben Gurion, cause I’m not buying the shit that your shovelin’. So I ask again, what’s your interest in running defense for this woman?
At what point did I defend her? I have clearly stated the opposite.
I just don’t see what an accident of a family member has to do a profile article about the business.
Tell me James? Why is it that everyone else in the room is holding their nose as if someone took a dump behind the sofa except you? What? You’re “hard of smelling”? Give it a rest Jimbo.
A woman from a prominent family gets married who has killed a young man. That’s not worth mentioning?
I just realized that it’s very possible the family and the media at the time didn’t even know she was the killer because the crooked authorities had done such a good job of buttoning the case down.
Shoded Yam – stop misrepresenting my comments and for g-d sake, it is time you clean behind your sofa.
Richard – what you are saying is “If someone killed but it was completely NOT his/her fault, society should still hunt them for the rest of their life”. At the time that article was written, this is how it was treated.
AND… how cruel should the reporter be – “Shani got married to her love but let’s not forget she killed someone and as far as we know, it wasn’t her fault”.
@ james: This is getting old. That was your last comment in this thread.
Mentioning a criticial fact of someone’s life in the newspaper is not “hunting them.” It is called reporting. People do it all the time.
@james: claiming that a police investigation was “Dismissed “& claiming this is any way legitimate, when the entire case was based on corruption, is disgusting.
I’ve never said it was ‘is any way legitimate’.
No Jimmy, you’re confused. Not “comments misrepresented”, but comments “presented disingenuously”. Btw. That little tickle you feel in your backside, That’s my foot in your ass. Lol.
This is very mature for a 51 years old. LOL
Very disappointed it is your foot. I was hoping you started foreplay.
@james: Comments are meant to substantive & deal specifically with the post. Stay on-topic. Try not to be diverted.
“Richard Silverstein July 13, 2015, 12:15 PM
The difference is that being rich in Israel will ALWAYS get you off. Not so in the U.S.”
O.J. Simpson?
Ethan Couch?
Snoop Dog?
I don’t know who Ethan Couch is nor do any other Americans. OJ Simpson’s case is infamous & a perfect example of justice failing & most Americans view it that way. I’m not arguing that American justice is pure. Just that it generally works far better than Israeli justice.
These examples are of people whose trail was public and still managed to dodge the charges. It is much worse. Can you imagine what happens in backstage like in this case? How many cases are being dumped silently?
The comparison in Israel would be Ehud Olmert but he gets what he deserves now!
This again is just 1 example. Overall, the conviction rate is well over 99% in Israel Vs 65% – 80% in the USA.
I just think it would be more appropriate to substantiate these claims with more that one example before making such a broad generalization, which prejudices the the Israeli justice system and the judges, lawyers and law enforcement individuals within it.
As a Hebrew speaker I can attest that this case is raising lots of questions, not only about the formerly accused but also the parents of the deceased. There are contradictions in testimonies, that no one raised any objections to the outcome of the initial investigation, etc. There are also wider implications that if there was corruption many cases would have to be revisited so people are paying close attention to this.