A Jerusalem court Monday ordered that Ephraim Novak should be extradited the the United Sates as demanded by American authorities. Novak, who made aliya from America in 2003, is expected to face charges, stand trial for his alleged involvement in a financial scam involving fraudulent income tax returns. If found guilty, he could face a prison sentence.
He claims that he did not know it was a scam and as soon as it became known to him, he pulled out. In the following video, Novak explains his case to Israel National News TV's Hezki Ezra.
Novak has been under house arrest for the better part of a year waiting for a decision on his extradition, and he was not allowed to leave without escorts. He also was not permitted to go to synagogue during the High Holidays or to exercise outside.
He was ordered to wear an electronic detection band around his ankle at all times so the police could keep track of his whereabouts. Dina Moskowitz, a friend of the Novaks, says that the house arrest also prevented him from working, except from home, as a healer and reflexologist. "His wife earns a meager salary as a librarian" explains Moskowitz "and the couple is deeply in debt because of his predicament."
Moskowitz states that no matter whether Novak is innocent or guilty, it is halakhically (according to Torah law) forbidden to extradite a Jew to non-Jewish authorities to stand trial.
Strenuous efforts have been made to contact and influence Knesset Members and Justice Minister Ya'akov Ne'eman, not to sign the extradition order, and we are all praying for a miracle that he be allowed to face trial here in Israel instead of in the United States, " she continued.
Ephraim is an observant Jew who lives with his wife, Miriam, in Nachlaot, Jerusalem. The health of both of them has deteriorated tremendously during this whole ordeal. Ephraim suffers from a failed kidney and other problems, while Miriam suffers from cancer. "She needs Ephraim with her" said Ms. Moskowitz "we are very concerned for her welfare if the dreaded extradition order is signed and they are parted forcibly."
Following the court order, Ephraim said, "The judge's decision was expected. This has become a political case of Israel giving in to all the whims of the United States.. The judge refused to give his reasons for his decision."
However, the Israeli courts were forced to weigh the difficult issue of extraditing an individual citizen to face trial in the context of reciprocal relations with the United States and the possible negative results to Israel of refusing the request.