The blight of corrosive corruption (Jerusalem Post)

[Joanne98]

I was studying Chapter I of the Book of Isaiah when out of the holy text leapt headlines from The Jerusalem Post, Haaretz, Ma'ariv and Yediot, as well as from foreign newspapers: "Your leaders have become plunderers, associates of thieves, lovers of bribery, pursuers of payoffs" (1:23).

The rest of the chapter, as they say, was commentary: "How has she become like a harlot, the city of faithfulness. Once it was filled with justice and righteousness, but now - murderers."

One often turns to the Bible for solace, but in this instance the only consolation was in the knowledge that we today did not invent corruption. Greed and selfishness are part of the human condition. This is one of the major purposes of Judaism - to help us transcend our natural inclinations.

That this is an ongoing struggle is evident from the endless string of scandals and sheer incompetence in Israeli public life. When 85% of Israelis believe our government is corrupt, it is time to ask: Have we become just another Levantine state on the shores of the Mediterranean, one whose officials are always on the take, and where bribery and cronyism are an accepted way of life? Does Israel now embody the fear of the prophets that some day we will truly become like all the nations, instead of being a light to the nations?

THE CONGREGATION of suspects is frightening: former minister of justice Haim Ramon and President Moshe Katsav on morals charges; (a president has already resigned because of financial improprieties). Ariel Sharon and his sons were accused of financial misdeeds, and former premiers Binyamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak have been under investigation even though charges were never formally brought.

Star players of a major football team are accused of accepting payoffs from gamblers. Nor have Orthodox religious leaders been immune to this spreading contagion. They have not always served as the model of behavior that is expected of those who wear the mantle of Torah.

And now, the frosting on the cake: Israel's topmost tax officials and businessmen stand accused of influence-peddling at the Tax Authority, while Olmert himself could soon be under investigation for other improprieties - all underscoring what Yediot describes as "the tight relationship between the criminal world and the public bureaucracy."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467724691&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Isn't it amazing how every country that has voted in RW governments is now suffering from corruption.

[Joanne98]

1. Part Two...

Of late, many of us have been warning that corruption poses a greater threat to our future than our external adversaries and that, unless reversed, like a cancer it will ultimately destroy the Zionist dream.

Alas, today the stench of corruption has become all-pervasive. We are drowning in a sea of moral turpitude. Even as we abide by the principal of presumption of innocence until convicted in a court of law, too much is going on for us not to be sickened by what surrounds us. Each time we think we have reached the bottom, another layer of sleaze is exposed. Our rage, contempt and disillusionment grow daily. Morale has reached an all-time low.

The government, civil service, business sector and all levels of society have become degraded by leaders willing to forgo ethical norms and decency because of greed and the selfish pursuit of personal agendas. The collapse of public morality was undoubtedly a major factor contributing to the leadership breakdown during the bungled Lebanon war.

Our president, whose predecessor retired prematurely under a cloud, was accused of sexual misdemeanors and illegally providing pardons. Former prime minister Ariel Sharon underwent police interrogation for a series of alleged transgressions. His son Omri sacrificed himself to protect his father and was sentenced to jail for criminal conduct. Ministers and senior officials of virtually all political parties have been implicated in various misdemeanors.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1167467724698&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[Scurrilous]

2. Accountant General: Israel is the most corrupt country in the West

<snip>

"The Finance Ministry's accountant general, Yaron Zelekha, said on Monday that Israel is the most corrupt country in the West, but that most of its civil service is honest and of high quality.

Zelekha said he is optimistic since the authorities are dealing with the problems efficiently and with determination.

Zelekha spent Monday with a security guard at his side, a result of the threats issued against him due to his fight against government corruption.

"Contrary to the public impression, I am very optimistic. The problem of corruption in the country is very serious, and we are for all practical purposes the most corrupt country in the Western world. This has been determined by international organizations," he explained.

"These matters were hidden under the table, and now they are out in the open - therefore I am optimistic. The public is aware of the affairs, and that is part of the healing process," Zelekha said."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/813765.html