After having lived in the USA for over 50 years and having had dealings with several government agencies, I have say that there is a very strong element of anti-Semitism alive and well and lurking in government agencies. Though Congress has been very supportive of Israel, the career bureaucrats in the FBI, State Department, Justice Department and IRS are not accountable to the voters. They are protected by civil service. Within these agencies, there are many individuals who are anything but friends of Jews and Israel. Kobi made a good target for some of them.

Your article covers, precisely, my thoughts, and it is a relief to see that someone has finally spoken up in Kobi Alexander's behalf. Although it does appear that Mr. Alexander, along with hundreds (or maybe thousands) of others, may have made a mistake, what is happening to Mr. Alexander is a disgrace. Aside from the obvious disgraces (e.g., the livelihoods of a man and his family being so freely and so disproportionately threatened by other human beings for the purpose of making an example to corporate America; the great successes of a brilliant man being masked by undeserved accusations of greed), I have lost a lot of faith in the U.S. legal system after watching the U.S. government conduct its case against Mr. Alexander. A great irony lies in the fact that in a country that prides itself in its justice system, a higher justice would surely be served by doing nothing at all than by proceeding as the U.S. government apparently plans to proceed. If Mr. Alexander is extradited, I sincerely hope that the prosecutors regain enough of their wits to ask themselves "does what I am doing make sense?"

He is a ganeef who stole huge sums from the stock holders (owners) in Comverse. He is a ganeef in a giant scale and should spend many years in jail, and return the stolen money to the company.

If he's as honest as you claim, why run from the laws of the country under which he was able to make so much money? Flight makes him appear guilty to most. Face charges, return improper gains and enjoy the remainder.

Why is it that any time a Jew comes under fire for anything, anti-Semitism is cited as a motivating factor. The fact remains that this guy has committed a crime---if he hadn't, he wouldn't have fled. Personally, I don't care whether the government makes an example of him or not. I don't care whether other CEO's get prosecuted or not. As long as this guy is guilty and prosecuted, that's fine with me. I'm not going to have sympathy just because he's being singled out nor will I raise complaints of anti-Semitism. Get over it!

the fbi is an anti-semetic organization. They will do what they can to frame a Jew. They will not go after the bankers of the drug cartels,they will not protect America from the hundreds of terrorist,rapists,child molesters and gang members that sneak over the border.

Word in the City is that Alexander is what's known in Israel as a real 'combinator' (scroll down for explanation) or in plain English - a wheeler dealer.

rishon, Kobi is fortunate to have friends like Gabi. secondly, anyone who thinks that US government agencies are not rife with anti-Jew/anti-Israel views and tendencies is simply ignorant. thirdly, if Gabi is right - what are the implications? the Dreyfus affair resonated throughout the diaspora; but with today's "glut of information and lack of filters" it seems that very few discern the obvious handwriting on the wall. Given all that, one can certainly understand why Kobi felt the need to flee - lekh lekha! Those who feel the US is a safe haven should remember who refused to take them in prior to WWII, instead giving a creepy little nahash the fortitude to annihilate a people... If the deck is stacked, Kobi stands little chance to prove his innocence; for americans have more sympathy for a pedophile like MJ than a Jew.

"U.S. gov't agencies rife with anti-semitism?" "Americans have more sympathy for a pedophile than a Jew." Okaaaay, let's everyone take a deep breath, stop taking our crazy pills for a moment, and think. Let's consider why the FBI might have gone after Alexander as he fled from country to country (he was also reported as having been in Sri Lanka). First, Kobi committed a crime -- that seems clear -- not even his friend is disputing it. A big crime. That alone justifies pursuit and prosecution. Second, hasn't anyone noticed that Federal prosecutors have made going after white-collar crime a huge priority? (remember Enron, Martha Stewart, Tyco, WorldCom, Tyson?) Third, HE FLED THE COUNTRY. Of course they're going to go after him. If Ken Lay had fled the country after transferring $57 million out, the hunt for Alexander would have been nothing compared to the hunt for Lay (and Lay's not Jewish). And Kessler's statement about extradition treaties doesn't make sense -- in most cases, it's much EASIER to extradite a third-country national from countries without a treaty, esp when it's a Third World country like Namibia. They're much more likely to say to another country, OK, here you go, take him, versus trying to extradite a Jewish (alleged) criminal from Israel (remember how long it took to get rid of Ze'ev Rosenstein, after Israel tried for years to do something about him and couldn't?) No, Kobi fled there simply because he thought he could hide there and escape justice, not for any other purpose. So, finders of anti-semitism as the cause for everything, let's have some evidence. Does it really help Jewry to claim that EVERYTHING is anti-semitism? Doesn't that cheapen REAL anti-semitism?

The two largest phone records tracking companies in the world, both originating out of Israel. Both are used by the Mossad to conduct espionage in foreign countries all over the world. And Kobi Alexander ran one of them. Have you ever heard of Monica Lewinsky? How do you think Benjamin Netahyahu knew about her tryst with Bill Clinton long before that story broke? The U.S. FBI had long suspected that a certain foreign government was tracking the calls made in and out of the White House. The phone system there was supposed to be secure but even Bill Clinton mentions this in one of the taped conversations between him and Lewinsky! The country suspected was ( and maybe still is) Israel. The medium of the surveillance was though one of the aforementioned companies because one of the companies installed some White House phone equipment. Jews all over the world can whine about anti-semitism but the truth is Kobi Alexander is probably guilty of more than just stealing money. Maybe he's another Jonathan Pollard and the FBI is just doing its job. All I can say is, "Job well done!" NOTE: I'm fairly sure the gatekeepers will not post this. The average American and Israeli may be in the dark about the nefarious activities of the Mossad but we know.

I truly enjoyed your piece on Kobi. I have been watching as the US media portrayed such a different picture of a man I found to be a great leader and innovator. Thank you for spreading some truth and dignity into the media's jaded view of reality. Sincerely, Jason Burch Newmark Knight Frank Commercial Real Estate

"World Citizen" (why are you afraid to reveal your name?), get your facts straight! Comverse and Amdocs install their software at telephone companies, not at the White House or other private premises. I work at Amdocs, whose software produces phone bills. It just tracks call origin, destination, time, duration, and any other details needed only to calculate charges. You are clearly just another creepy conspiracy kook with antisemitic overtones. I'm surprised you didn't accuse Monica Lewinsky of being an Israeli spy.

Many in the game think that Monica was the bait the Mossad used to lure Bill Clinton into a situation whereby he could be blackmailed. In this situation she would not be an agent of espionage just an enabler. In roughly 1991 or 1992, before Benjamin Netanyahu came to Washington, DC to discuss the Oslo Accords, he made a very unusual statement . In it he stated that "he knew information about a story in Washington that would blow the city wide open." Netanyahu wanted nothing to do with the Oslo Accords. Netanyahu wanted leverage over Bill Clinton on the Oslo Accords to back out of the deal. Monica Lewinsky would have given him the leverage he needed. Likewise the stories of Chandra Levy and Golan Cipel echo the Clinton affair. Both individuals were jewish and/or Israeli citizens. Both Levy and Cipel worked for individuals in positions of high responsibility in the U.S. governnment or the state of New Jersey. Both Cipel and Levy were in illicit sexually relations with those parties. In the case of Cipel, he was hired as the head of homeland security for the state of New Jersey. This was/is a highly sensitive position requiring intelligence briefings. Cipel would have gained knowledge in both the strong and weak points of any security program in that state and possibly the United States. Cipel had absolutely no qualifications to hold that position yet he was hired by the man with whom he was having a homosexual affair. That man was the married governor of New Jersey. Chandra Levy was bedding Gary Condon, the head of the House Intelligence Committee! He was also a married man with children. These illicit affairs alone would have given Levy and Cipel or a foreign government tremedous leverage over these people. My personal opinion is that the knowledge gained by Levy probably cost her her life. Her death may have even been carried out to send a message to the Mossad. And who knows. Maybe the Mossad killed her because they had gained all the information they wanted and needed to cover their tracks. As far as the information gathered by Amdocs and Comserve, that is the very information that intelligence organizations thrive on. It is not always necessary to know exactly what was said. But just who is calling who. And I stand on my statement that Comverse and/or Amdocs is suspected of tapping into White House phone conversations via some of the phone company installation work that one of the companies did. In a phone converstaion Bill Clinton had with Monica Lewinsky during his presidency he clearly states that they must be careful "as a foreign government was suspected of having tapped WH phone lines." Implicitly that country was Israel. Finally, if these conjectures make me a anti-semitic conspiracy nut, so be it. There are thousands, no legions of us in the world. We have long gotten over the ad hominem attacks. Telling the truth about the men who run your sad country is worth all the name calling you can dish out.

Everything you've written is true, but I want to add the following. I know Kobi for years, and he is honest, ethical, moral and very intelligent. He was fortunate to have had good advice building Comvers. It seems he didn't have the same good fortune in this matter. First, he promptly resign as CEO, permitting Comvers to undertake a thorough and unimpeded internal investigation, and quickly providing the information to the US Attorney. This enabled her to indict Kobi before any of the other 120 CEO's under investigation. Kobi could have remained CEO, and delayed the investigation until some other CEOs were indicted. Second, his failure to surrender appears as an admission of guilt. Without adressing the justice or injustice of their imprisionment, both Martha Stewart and Michael Milken have endured procecution and emerged to continue their contributions.

Lay off world citizen.He forgot to take his meds. And screw the f.b.i.! They are a group of incompetant idiots that will frame a Jew before they would go after bin laden.

It is comforting to assume anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli reasons for this.But wrong is wrong. Alexander is far from the only CEO being hounded and fired becasue of a crime which involves cheating shareholders. He seems to be unique in seeking refuge overseas. That he fled to a country that did not have an extradition treaty with the US certainly makes the situation worse. He did not move there for the scenery, While "Innocent until proven guilty" applies, please spare us the Jewish argument. And get your facts straight--US prosecutors are appointed not elected.

Sorry CrabbyMax et al. But this case is not being prosecuted by the FBI. It's being prosecuted by a Jewish woman in the Brooklyn office of the US Attorney- a woman with strong ties to Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is also Jewish and a strong friend of Israel. Most of the other backdating cases are being brought by Eliot Spitzer- another very pro-Israel Jew. Question remains: Why did Kobi run?

This is not a balanced report; Kobi Alexander had invented a new crime, which is creating options for future employees with low price, giving these options as a gift to the chosen few. You have to check your facts. I do not have all the facts or pretend to know it. But for the CEO's that are honest, please investigate deeper into the source of the problem. I think Kobi is an amazing entrepreneur, I admire his contributions, but I do not appreciate the way he has used his power.

I 'll print them out and read them on the plane, so I won't need to buy the latest spy book at the airport.The'yve inspired me . Check this out .The powers that 'B' (get it?) brought Monica over here to Jerusalem, with seven dwarfs, oops, I mean friends, and planted all eight of them in the President's office? Nu? Why not? As good as the yarns printed till now.. A' and friends planted by B'. Super, no?

You have many good points, especially that Kobi is not a threat to anyone. If one buys shares you should know that there is always a grey area in things like accounting. He did much more good than harm and if any punisment is appropriate it should not be jail, but public works. Note federal prosecutors are appointed by the US president not elected, state prosecutors are elected. In either way they are both looking to make headlines for future employment.

does 911 ring a bell?

What about Sorin & Kreinberg pleading guilty?

SIR- SAW NEWS ON FINANCIAL TV THIS MORNING ABOUT KOBI ALEXANDER AND THEN FOUND YOUR ARTICLE ON INTERNET BY GABI KESSLER. I AM AMERICAN CITIZEN AND IF WHAT HE DESCRIBED IS TRUE, I AS AN AMERICAN TEND TO BELIEVE MR KESSLER-YES MAYBE MR ALEXANDER SHOULD DO WHITE COLLAR TIME IN JAIL, MAYBE 2 YRS IN FEDERAL INSTITUTION, BUT I DO AGREE WITH HIM THAT IT IS BEST TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE FEDS DO WITH ANY AMERICANS WHO ARE PUT ON TRAIL. AMERICA TODAY IS A VIOLENT PLACE THAT HAS LOST IT'S SOUL. THE JUSTICE SYSTEM PROSACUTES ARBITRALARY WHEN IT SUITS THEM AND TRUE JUSTICE DEPENDS ON HAVING THE BEST DEFENSE ATTORNEY YOUR MONEY CAN BUY. I BELIEVE EVEN OUR LEGISLATORS IN CONGRESS ARE AFRAID OF THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD THEY STEP OUT OF LINE TOO MUCH- JUDICIAL AND POLICE POWER IN THE USA HAS GONE AMUK AND EVEN MANY AMERICANS ARE AFRAID OF THESE POWERS. SO IF AMERICANS ARE AFRAID OF THESE POWERS, KOBI ALEXANDER SHOULD DEFINITELY FEAR FOR HIS WELLBEING AND STAY PUT IF HE CAN IN NAMIBIA

Now please, why the hell would the Israelis or the Mossad be involved in 9/11- motive please? I don't buy that line for a single minute. Likewise - why did Clinton set himself up for a bruising with the Monica Lewinsky affair - isn't that his own stupidity? The technology used for spying on Clinton is really immaterial and isn't it maybe the FBI who used it on him in the first place? What access did Mr Alexander have to Mr Clinton's telephone? Get a life, is it really necessary to make such wild allegations about Mr Alexander? Doesn't it all smell a bit funny? Where is the proof? Who is really guilty here, is it perhaps the very ones spreading the rumours who are covering their own tracks by diverting attention? Or perhaps incompetents that are trying to cover their own tracks while everyone knows that the Mossad is the most efficient intelligence agancy in the world.... hellooooo!

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6480.htm

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/13232585/c_13216637?f=home_todayinfinance

Greed, by any other name, is GREED and Kobi exhibited a great deal of that. The fact that he helped Israel and Israelis, a empty gesture in light of who's money he used, evidently "other people's" ,makes him a Saint?? I think not. He deserves to be prosecuted. He is bribing Namibian officials as we speak. These are the actions of an "honest man". Again, those that defend him are self serving and justifying the wrong that this man committed. He is not an idiot. If he is, he should not have been the ceo of such a successful organization. He is, in plain language, a crook yet to be convicted. End of story!