Netanyahu Kicks Up a Storm With Comments On Police Leaks

Jerusalem, 15 October, 2017 (TPS) -- Minister of Homeland Security Gilad Erdan said Sunday that he had instructed Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to open an investigation into police leaks concerning Binyamin Netanyahu, a day after the prime minister took to Facebook Saturday to denounce the force over the issue.

“When [chief of Police, Roni] Alsheich came into the job, he made two important decisions: No more leaks, and no more public recommendations made by the police,” Netanyahu wrote. “Since the political advisor Lior Horev was hired as an external advisor to the Police [at the taxpayers expense], the illegal leaks evolved into a tsunami, and the decision to avoid public recommendations has disappeared”.

Netanyahu continued: “The public [already knows] that this is a clear witch hunt against Prime Minister Netanyahu waged by the media. As has always happened in the past, these allegations will too [amount to nothing].”

Netanyahu is under investigation in two separate cases. In the first, known as Case 1000, the prime minister received expensive gifts such as cigars and champagne from wealthy businessmen. Netanyahu acknowledges receiving the gifts but denies they constitute a bribe or breach of ethics in any way.

The second affair, known as Case 2,000, concerns allegations that Netanyahu traded favors with media mogul Noni Mozes, publisher of the Yedioth Ahronoth Hebrew daily. Leaked transcripts of conversations between the two suggest they discussed a deal in which Yedioth would provide positive coverage of the prime minister in exchange for Netanyahu’s support for legislation to cut back circulation of Yisrael Hayom, Yedioth’s main rival.

In addition, several members of Netanyahu’s inner circle have been arrested over allegations of bribery connected with a deal to buy submarines from Germany. However, the prime minister himself has not been named as a suspect in the case.

Media reports prior to the Succot holiday said police are expected to summon the prime minister this week for another round of questioning.

Horev hinted at the reports when he replied to Netanyahu’s post by saying “the timing was obvious.”

Erdan told Israel Public Broadcaster (Kan) Sunday morning that he did not view Netanyahu’s claims as questioning Alshiech’s integrity, but rather as him ‘shedding light’ on the problematic issue of the leaks. However opposition leader Yitzhak Herzog said: ‘What began with artists, journalists and judges, has now come to police officers. Incitement and division [to serve] one’s own personal interest, even at the expense of the people’s unity and damage to symbols of law and order’, he wrote.

Meanwhile, coalition whip David Bitan criticised members of Netanyahu’s Likud Party during a morning TV interview on Sunday for failing to stand up for the prime minister.

“The Likud ministers are a bunch of cowards” Bitan said, “I’ve said it before – this is a fight for public opinion, it isn’t only Netanyahu personally, but rather defense of the entire Likud. They need to do their job, and not just sit in their office. Every time there is a crisis, they disappear.”