NIF Fellow, Shamai K. Leibowitz, receives 20 month jail term

NIF Fellow, Shamai K. Leibowitz, (Yeshayahu Leibowitz's grandson) who worked as a linguist for the FBI was sentenced Monday to 20 months in prison for leaking secret documents to a blogger.

But federal prosecutors in Maryland have remained mum about exactly what was contained in the classified papers that Shamai K. Leibowitz, 39, gave the unnamed blogger in April 2009, while he worked on contract for the FBI. According to court records, the documents concerned "communication intelligence activities."

During a Monday hearing in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven M. Dunne said Leibowitz "betrayed the FBI when he worked there," but offered no details.

U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams Jr. said the response of federal authorities convinced him Leibowitz committed a "very, very serious offense." But the judge said even he does not know what information Leibowitz, a Hebrew scholar, disclosed.

"I don't know what was divulged, other than some documents, and I don't know how it's compromised things," Williams said in court.

Leibowitz, who worked as a lawyer in Israel and has dual U.S. and Israeli citizenship, said in court papers that he worked for the U.S. State Department in 2006, teaching Hebrew and Israeli law and culture to American diplomats. He said he then was hired as a contractor by the U.S. Department of Defense at its Defense Language Institute. (WaPo)

A bit about Leibowitz and the NIF from NGO Monitor:

Leibowitz's anti-Israel activity could hardly have come as a surprise to the NIF Leibowitz came out in favor of economic warfare against Israel several years ago. At the October 2002 Second National Student Conference on the Palestinian Solidarity Movement at the University of Michigan, Leibowitz accepted an invitation to argue for divestment alongside the likes of Sami al-Arien (under indictment for his longtime activities in the service of the Palestine Islamic Jihad terrorist organization).

Leibowitz's legal work in Israel prior to his Fellowship is notable primarily for its political quality, rather than its devotion to civil rights. For several years, Leibowitz has served as counsel for International Solidarity Movement activists who illegally enter the state of Israel in order to foil anti-terror operations. Leibowitz has also attempted to intimidate reporters into silence through libel suits, such as the one he filed on behalf of I.S.M. activist Radhika Sainath against Jerusalem reporter Judy Balint for writing of Sainath's efforts to help Palestinians avoid security checks (The suit was ultimately dismissed.). Employment of the law in order to chill political reportage is generally thought of as inimical to the promotion of civil rights.

Leibowitz achieved public recognition in Israel for his decision to represent Marwan Barghouti, West Bank leader of the terrorist al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in his murder trial in Israel. Leibowitz apparently took on the representation because of his admiration for his client, and he claimed that trying Barghouti was immoral, since Barghouti was the Palestinian Moses leading his people to liberty (Ha'aretz, 4 Oct. 2002). Leibowitz expanded on the theme in a column published by the Israeli news website nfc.co.il, where he argued that the proper understanding of the Exodus story is that the Almighty acted as a terrorist, killing Egyptian children and innocents as punishment for Egyptian arrogance in lording it over another nation, and it would behoove Israel to ask itself how it has become the Egyptians.

To their credit, NIF has apparently removed all traces of their relationship with Leibowitz, and he doesn't appear on their "Where are the NIF Fellows now?" webpage.

I haven't found any trace of what type of classified information Leibowitz gave to the blogger, or who the blogger is.

Anyone out there know?

I would think that the same way the lefti-wing establishment has disconnected itself from Leibowitz, they should do the same with Anat Kam if she's found guilty.

Leibowitz still writes a blog...I wonder if he'll keep it going in prison? (I think it's his)

hat-tip: DF


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The IRS Taxman Cometh

In addition to news about Israel, Srugim and waffles, The Muqata Blog has also been following the US Tax code and its implications to expatriate US citizens living in Israel. We discussed the FBAR and the IRS child tax credit option.

6 months ago we disclosed that 13 FBI agents (or perhaps Homeland Security?) had set up a special unit within the US Embassy in Tel Aviv. Now we report that many of those who have claimed (and received) the $1000 per child tax credit rebate, have started to receive audit notices from the IRS. (See image above -- its the real McCoy, with only the identifying details blacked out)

The IRS requests a boatload of documentation that must be provided within 30 days.

I read through this request...and thought, "Well, that's not SO bad. I could get all that data together in 30 days".

And then I did the wrong thing, by googling "IRS Audit"

Q: What are my chances of getting through an audit without owing additional taxes?

A: Fewer than 25% of audit victims make a clean getaway. The IRS audits half as many taxpayers today as five years ago, but the take per audit has increased. The IRS, thanks to its sophisticated computer selection process, audits only those returns in which adjustments are almost a certainty. Realize the odds are against you and focus on limiting the damage from an audit.

Limiting the damage? I filed using a professional CPA and tax preparer. He doesn't try to bend or break the rules.

Some outfits (some already allegedly under IRS and FBI investigation) sound like used car salesmen:

In 2009, the Stimulus Act of the Obama Administration meant that instead of having a reported income of more than $8000 a year, American citizens in Israel only needed $3000 a year in reported income in order to qualify for a tax credit of $1000 per child. This means that the American government is helping its citizens by distributing money, and a check can come to your mailbox with $1000 per child, if you act now. This is not a gimmick.

Mishpacha Magazine (page 1, page 2) has a whole write-up on the onslaught of IRS requests for audits, quoting CPAs that "We've entered a new era...we've been receiving requests from people who are being audited... something that's never happened before [in Israel]"


People are warned of the following illegal practices that the less reputable tax preparers use:

- Those who naturalize their children during a given tax year, cannot claim the tax credits retroactively for previous years.

- Use of Kollel stipends or parental gifts as income for claiming the tax credit

- Grandparents claiming their grandchildren as dependents since 2005

These are common practice among the less reputable tax preparers – some of whom don't even sign the tax return! When faced with an audit, the onus is on those who signed the form. Make sure you KNOW what you're signing when filing your 1040.

With a less than 25% chance of a clean getaway on an audit -- the IRS is not who you want to mess with; even in Israel.

If you want the name of a reputable CPA tax preparer, and not some fly-by-night scammer, drop me an email.

We're going to be following this story, as the audits start piling up...

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