It appears that some of the controversy around Elchanan Tenenbaum is dying down, from at least three standpoints. The three are: The alleged Sharon-Tenenbaum connection; Tenenbaum's rumored treachery with Hizbullah; and the petition to the Supreme Court against the arrangement made with Tenenbaum.
Prime Minister Sharon seems to have convinced the public and his fellow Knesset Members that he did not know of the connection between Tenenbaum and his wife's former business partner. In an unusual televised interview last night - critics say Sharon agrees to interviews only on holidays and when he's in trouble - he deflected all charges of having agreed to the controversial terrorist-release deal for personal reasons. He said that he has not been in contact with Shimon Cohen, Tenenbaum's father-in-law, for many years, and that Tenenbaum's children never mentioned the connection in their meetings with Sharon. "People who know me from the most difficult places know that I would never involve personal considerations in decisions on national issues," he said excitedly.
In general, Maariv newspaper, which splashed the story over much of its edition yesterday, is more critical of the Sharon-Tenenbaum connection than Yediot Acharonot, which buried the item on page 4 yesterday. Maariv's headlines today included "A Question of Trust," "Send Sharon to a Polygraph" and "Arad Family: Sharon Sold Ron."
Regarding the extent of Tenenbaum's criminal activity: the polygraph tests he took yesterday and the day before have convinced police investigators that he told the truth in saying that he didn't make contact with Hizbullah to give them military information and that he didn't stage his abduction. They are not sure that he has yet told the entire truth, however. Tenenbaum has admitted leaving Israel for an Arab country to consummate a drug deal. The investigation of Tenenbaum continues, and it is possible that within a few days he will be released to house arrest.
Finally, Knesset Members who filed petitions with the Supreme Court against the deal made with Tenenbaum withdrew them this morning. The deal in question, made late last week, stipulates that Tenenbaum would not be jailed if a) found to be telling the truth and b) he did not volunteer to compromise state security. The ire of the MKs - Chemi Doron (Shinui) and Ophir Pines (Labor) - was raised at the lenient conditions being offered to Tenenbaum. However, Supreme Court Chief Justice Barak said in today's hearing that their case has no grounds - and the MKs withdrew their suit. Barak said that it is untenable to intervene in a judgment of this sort made by the Attorney-General.
Prime Minister Sharon seems to have convinced the public and his fellow Knesset Members that he did not know of the connection between Tenenbaum and his wife's former business partner. In an unusual televised interview last night - critics say Sharon agrees to interviews only on holidays and when he's in trouble - he deflected all charges of having agreed to the controversial terrorist-release deal for personal reasons. He said that he has not been in contact with Shimon Cohen, Tenenbaum's father-in-law, for many years, and that Tenenbaum's children never mentioned the connection in their meetings with Sharon. "People who know me from the most difficult places know that I would never involve personal considerations in decisions on national issues," he said excitedly.
In general, Maariv newspaper, which splashed the story over much of its edition yesterday, is more critical of the Sharon-Tenenbaum connection than Yediot Acharonot, which buried the item on page 4 yesterday. Maariv's headlines today included "A Question of Trust," "Send Sharon to a Polygraph" and "Arad Family: Sharon Sold Ron."
Regarding the extent of Tenenbaum's criminal activity: the polygraph tests he took yesterday and the day before have convinced police investigators that he told the truth in saying that he didn't make contact with Hizbullah to give them military information and that he didn't stage his abduction. They are not sure that he has yet told the entire truth, however. Tenenbaum has admitted leaving Israel for an Arab country to consummate a drug deal. The investigation of Tenenbaum continues, and it is possible that within a few days he will be released to house arrest.
Finally, Knesset Members who filed petitions with the Supreme Court against the deal made with Tenenbaum withdrew them this morning. The deal in question, made late last week, stipulates that Tenenbaum would not be jailed if a) found to be telling the truth and b) he did not volunteer to compromise state security. The ire of the MKs - Chemi Doron (Shinui) and Ophir Pines (Labor) - was raised at the lenient conditions being offered to Tenenbaum. However, Supreme Court Chief Justice Barak said in today's hearing that their case has no grounds - and the MKs withdrew their suit. Barak said that it is untenable to intervene in a judgment of this sort made by the Attorney-General.