Israeli authorities today lifted a gag order, allowing publication of the identity of the mayor arrested and questioned earlier this week on suspicion of bribery and misappropriation of funds. The suspect is Tomer Glam, the mayor of the southern city of Ashkelon.
According to investigators, Glam is suspected of diverting donations that were earmarked for the welfare of soldiers for his personal use. The investigation, led by the elite police anti-corruption unit Lahav 433, followed a covert probe that unfolded over recent months.
Police allege that donations totaling millions of shekels, contributed to the Ashkelon municipality by individuals and organizations in Israel and abroad, were transferred into a community fund and from there funneled into the private accounts of the mayor. The funds were reportedly donated to support residents during the ongoing war.
A police statement said the covert investigation was conducted by the National Fraud Investigations Unit, which examined suspicions that a portion of the donations intended for public welfare were ultimately used for the personal benefit of the mayor and individuals close to him.
Attorneys Victor Ozen and Esther Bar Zion, who represent Glam and his wife, rejected the allegations. In a statement, they said: “This is an upright, ethical, and honest individual who was detained, provided a full account, and will do everything necessary to prove to the police that there is absolutely no basis to the suspicions attributed to him, apparently due to an error.”
The attorneys added that Glam works “day and night for the city,” is deeply committed to the safety and welfare of its residents, and expressed confidence that within days investigators would conclude that there was no wrongdoing in his conduct.
The investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed at this stage.
{Matzav.com}
A California statute that prohibits federal law enforcement officers from wearing masks while performing their duties will not be enforced by the Los Angeles Police Department, according to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.
Speaking with KABC, McDonnell said it would be unreasonable for one armed law enforcement agency to confront another, warning that such an approach would only create unnecessary conflict. He took aim at the No Secret Police Act, arguing that it reflects poor judgment and a lack of careful consideration.
McDonnell has also voiced criticism over how immigration enforcement operations have been carried out in Los Angeles, distancing his department from those actions.
“We are in line with our federal partners on everything except immigration enforcement,” he said.
“What we’ve seen since June here in Los Angeles and seen across the country, we’re as frustrated as everybody else — about the way that’s being done,” McDonnell added.
The police chief said he worries that aggressive enforcement tactics could discourage residents from contacting police when they need assistance, though he acknowledged there has been no documented decline in calls for service.
In an appearance on “Good Day Los Angeles,” McDonnell emphasized that the LAPD does not cooperate with federal law enforcement agencies on immigration matters.
“We’ve been solid on that since 1979. That’s been our policy,” he said.
“That’s worked for us. We cannot afford to alienate immigrant communities within Los Angeles,” McDonnell continued.
“We’ve built up trust over many years, and we can’t afford to lose that trust,” he said.
“We’ve tried to be as clear as we can about what our position is relative to ICE and immigration enforcement. We don’t work with ICE on that,” McDonnell added.
The mask ban has also drawn sharp criticism from the Department of Homeland Security. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, said the law violates the Constitution.
“At a time that ICE law enforcement faces a 1,000% increase in assaults and their family members are being doxxed and targeted, the sitting Governor of California signed unconstitutional legislation that strips law enforcement of protections in a disgusting, diabolical fundraising and PR stunt,” McLaughlin said in a statement issued last fall when the bill was signed.
California has since agreed not to implement the law while a lawsuit brought by the Trump administration proceeds through the courts.
{Matzav.com}
President Donald Trump briefly contemplated stepping away from diplomatic talks with Iran after a series of confrontations in the Persian Gulf that U.S. officials characterized as “aggressive,” according to a report published Tuesday by The Wall Street Journal citing senior American officials.
Despite the tensions, the discussions planned for later this week are still expected to move forward. The report did not specify what factors ultimately led Trump to allow the negotiations to continue.
Among the incidents cited was an episode in which Iran launched a drone that was intercepted and destroyed by a U.S. Navy fighter jet as it neared the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea.
That encounter took place just hours after Iranian forces allegedly harassed a U.S.-flagged merchant ship crewed by Americans as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the report, the drone involved was a Shahed-139, which was downed by an F-35C fighter launched from the Lincoln while the carrier was operating roughly 500 miles off Iran’s southern coastline. No U.S. service members were injured, and American military hardware was not damaged.
Even with those developments, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration still intends to proceed with talks between special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian representatives. “President Trump is always wanting to pursue diplomacy first, but obviously it takes two to tango,” she said. “As always, though, of course, the president has a range of options on the table with respect to Iran.”
Trump also addressed the matter directly on Tuesday, confirming that negotiations with Iran are underway while declining to disclose the location of the talks.
“They are negotiating. They’d like to do something, and we’ll see if something is going to be done,” Trump said.
Reflecting on earlier dealings with Tehran, he added, “They had a chance to do something a while ago, and it didn’t work out. And we did Midnight Hammer. I don’t think they want that happening again,” referring to U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last June. “But they would like to negotiate. We are negotiating with them right now, yes.”
When pressed on where the upcoming meeting would take place, Trump responded simply, “I can’t tell you that.”
{Matzav.com}
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