Controversial MK appointed tourism minister

[Scurrilous]

Israel Our Home MK Esterina Tartman to take over portfolio from Isaac Herzog, who will become minister for social affairs. Peace Now: Government should be ashamed of appointing an MK with racist views

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3369421,00.html

<snip>

"Controversial Israel Our Home MK Esterina Tartman will become Israel's next tourism minister, Avigdor Lieberman's faction decided Sunday.

Tartman will take over the portfolio from Labor MK Isaac Herzog who will become the minister for social affairs as part of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government reshuffle.

The left-wing Peace Now movement said the government should be "ashamed" of appointing an MK with "racist views" as tourism minister.

Tartman drew criticism from across the political spectrum last month when she lambasted that Labor leader Amir Peretz's decision to appoint Israeli Arab Labor MK Raleb Majadle as science, sports and culture minister, terming it "a lethal blow to Zionism."


State mulling criminal probe into MK Tartman for inciting racism (21/01/2007)

<snip>

"The state prosecution is considering opening a criminal investigation into Yisrael Beiteinu MK Esterina Tartman on suspicions of inciting racism, in the wake of Tartman's comments on the appointment of Labor MK Raleb Majadele as the first Arab minister.

Tartman said during a radio interview that the appointment of an Arab minister is "assimilation," calling it a "lethal blow to Zionism."

"We must destroy the affliction within us," said Tartman. "With God's help, the Holy One blessed be He will help us."

<snip>

"According to (Atty. General) Mazuz's office, "When the issue will be on the agenda, all the relevant information will be considered in accordance with the Basic Law on the Knesset, and in light of prior Supreme Court rulings on the matter."

Mazuz has been extremely careful in terms of initiating criminal proceedings due to comments, especially with regards to MKs. Nonetheless, Mazuz recently warned National Union-National Religious Party Chairman Effi Eitam, that his call to "expel the majority of Arabs from Judea and Samaria and exclude Israeli Arabs from the political system" constitutes a criminal violation, and should he repeat the comments he may be charged and tried."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/816015.html

[Scurrilous]

1. Racist minister just what we need

Tourism minister who carries firearm, holds racist views fitting for current-day Israel

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3369930,00.html

<snip>

"It is difficult to ignore the bad taste associated with the appointment of Esterina Tartman to the post of Israel's tourism minister. This representative post, whose objective is to advance tourism and Israel's image in the world, is being awarded, of all people, to Knesset Member Tartman, who holds racist views that justify the occupation and back the expulsion of Arab Israelis from the country.

The State of Israel , which in wake of the regional conflict and violence has been off the global tourism map for a while now, has now suffered yet another harsh public relations blow after choosing the most radical and blatant element in the National Union for the post of tourism minister.

In a world where image is sometimes more important than substances, the State is entrusting its entry gate at the hands of a minister who holds extremist rightist views that are perceived in the world and many parts of the country as illegitimate and deserving of condemnation.

Tartman of all people, who responded decisively to the appointment of Arab Minister Majadele and declared that "we must eradicate the affliction within us", while stating that the appointment of an Arab minister is akin to "taking an ax to the tree trunk known as Zionism and a Jewish State" –gets to head the national battle for attracting tourists and boosting Israel's image abroad."

<snip>

"Yet maybe Tartman's appointment could serve as some kind of full disclosure required for 2007 Israel; a sophisticated way of telling the truth to ourselves and the world: We are an occupying country where racist positions are acceptable and even enjoy proper representation in the government and Knesset; a country whose citizens carry firearms regularly and believe that there is no room for Arabs here.

Perhaps Tartman's appointment portrays the face of the country in the most accurate and clearest manner."

[breakaleg]

2. Seems like Israel is taking a turn in the wrong direction.

[Scurrilous]

3. MK Tartman lies about Master's degree

Designated tourism minister caught in lie about academic past by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper just days after appointment. Rivals gloat, associates come to her defense

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3370356,00.html

<snip>

"Designated Tourism Minister Esterina Tartman was met with another hurdle after Yedioth Ahhronot newspaper exposed that her supposed Master's degree in economy was non-existent on Tuesday.

The report said that the Israel Our Home Knesset member did participate in several courses in economics, however these courses were held in an institute that does not grant official academic degrees.

Tartman's biography in the Israel Our Home official website originally stated that she held a "Master's degree in economics and marketing from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem."

After Tartman was asked to comment on the discovery, the text was changed to "Business administration Master's degree studies."

Israel Our Home sources explained that this was a typing error, and that "She herself never claimed that (she had a Master's degree)."

This statement however, also turned out to be inaccurate, as in an interview to the Knesset channel two days ago, when asked about her skills and experience, the designated minister said, "I come from a clear economic background, a Bachelor's degree in accounting and finance and a Master's degree in business administration."

[Scurrilous]

4. Attorney general to look into Tartman affair

Mazuz asked to examine whether designated tourism minister's lies about her academic degrees constitute a criminal offense

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3370642,00.html

<snip>

"Attorney General Menachem Mazuz will look into the alleged falsification of academic degrees by designated tourism minister Esterina Tartman (Israel Our Home).

Mazuz will examine whether Tartman's lies about her degrees constitute a criminal offense that can prevent her from being appointed minister.

The decision to launch the inspection came following an appeal by Attorney Eitan Erez to the attorney general."

<snip>

"Elite criminal attorney Professor Kenneth Man explained that although they may not have been appropriate, Tartman’s claims would only be considered criminal should it become clear that she received monetary gain because of her resume ‘makeover’.

The maximum sentence for such an offense is three years; five if circumstances are severe.

Attorney Barak Kalev, head of the legal department of the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, criticized Tartman’s false claims on Tuesday. “One who has mislead the public about ones worthiness of an academic degree cannot serve as a public official who should lead by example,” he said."

[Scurrilous]

5. Deflated Tartarina

<snip>

"Esterina Tartman grew quiet yesterday. The arrogant, racist MK, with the bullying voice who so loved to strike at ministers and her Knesset colleagues, remained "sealed" at home and refused to answer the telephone.

Her curriculum vitae shrank before our astonished eyes. The chances that she will now be appointed minister of tourism also shrank; she will either give up on her own, or Avigdor Lieberman will make her an offer that she will not be able to refuse. Or Ehud Olmert will say: Enough! A government is not a circus! Or, the Knesset will not authorize her appointment.

Tartman's silence is an encouraging sign. It seems she has run out of excuses.

Following the report of Amnon Abramovich on Channel 2 regarding her limited stamina to work, she offered some dubious explanation. As for the "no graduate degree" story published in Yedioth Aharonoth, she argued it was all a mistake.

Yesterday, when it became clear that she also lacks a bachelor's degree, there were those who suggested she bring up that traffic accident again and argue that the blow she suffered, affecting "her ability to concentrate and remember," explains her confusion and lack of orientation on her academic degrees.

It may sound funny, but in this strange world, Tartman may adopt this idea and sue for further compensation. Perhaps she will seek damages for emotional anguish. If the idea that Tartman would become a minister seemed embarrassing to bizarre at the start of the week, today it is simply shameful."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/831423.html

[breakaleg]

6. This is good news. But it makes me wonder what direction Israel is heading towards for adding or

even considering adding these racist people to official positions.

[Scurrilous]

7. A right-wing racist as Tourism Minister...

...what were they thinking?

Anyhow...

Tartman not to be appointed minister

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3371058,00.html

Israel Our Home secretariat decides MK Yitzhak Aharonovitch will be appointed tourism minister, following revelations about Tartman fabricating academic past. Meanwhile, Ynet reveals she was convicted of causing road accident in 2002

<snip>

"The Israel Our Home secretariat decided Wednesday evening that Knesset Member Yitzhak Aharonovitch would be appointed tourism minister instead of MK Esterina Tartman.

Aharonovitch, 57, served as deputy police commissioner between the years 2002 and 2002. He currently serves as deputy Knesset speaker and as a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

The decision was made following a series of revelations about Tartman making false claims about her academic degrees."

<snip>

"Esterina Tratman's honesty came under fire once more Wednesday, after a Ynet expose revealed she went on trial four years ago after causing a traffic accident and trying to flee the scene.

In May 2002, Tartman hit a pedestrian at a crosswalk in Jerusalem. Witnesses reported that "she asked to keep driving, since she didn't believe she was involved." She only stopped when one witness ran after her and threatened to call the police, they said.

The traffic court judge Avraham Tennenbaum said that the witness testimonies indicated that "an accident had been caused, for which she was responsible."

Tratman was convicted of causing injury through negligence. She was fined NIS 3,000 (about $700) and had her license revoked for a year and a half.

The pedestrian, Gideon Shoshani, told Ynet: "She hit me and ran, people chased her and stopped her. She said she hadn't hit me. All through the trial, she didn't tell the truth, but the judge believed differently."

[Eugene]

8. Resume Troubles Plague Israel's Tartman (AP)

Resume Troubles Plague Israel's Tartman
By AMY TEIBEL
Associated Press Writer

February 28, 2007, 3:33 PM EST

JERUSALEM -- A candidate for Israel's Cabinet from a stridently anti-Arab party withdrew
her nomination Wednesday after key parts of her resume turned out to be false.

Esterina Tartman blamed Israeli media for bringing her down and adding her to the growing
list of Israeli politicians mired in scandal. Yisrael Beiteinu party leader Avigdor Lieberman
said he stood by her but respected her decision to withdraw.

"I will not be broken by the media," she told a news conference, with Lieberman at her side.

The scandal erupted when two universities where Tartman claimed she earned advanced
degrees said she was never enrolled, and a bank where she claimed to be a vice president
said she held only a lower level post.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-israel-lawmakers-lies,0,94743.story

[breakaleg]

9. This is a joke.

It's one thing to blame the media. But when you lied about degrees you don't hold, how can you manage to find fault with anyone but yourself?

[Lurking Dem]

10. Someone who lies about their education

has likely spent a great deal of their life doing just that. (finding fault elsewhere)

[Tom Joad]

11. Racists are fine in the cabinet, but you have to be honest about your college records.