As his associates are remanded, Netanyahu dismisses new probe as ‘witch hunt’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday decried a police investigation in which two of his close confidants were arrested, along with senior figures in the Bezeq communications company, as “baseless” and part of a “media witch hunt.”

“Another baseless investigation under pressure from the media,” a statement from Netanyahu said. “The media witch hunt continues in full force.

“After the release of air from Case 1000 and 2000, and after it became clear there was no air in Case 3000, the media created massive pressure to create a new balloon, Case 4000. The air will escape from it too,” the statement said, referring to two investigations (Cases 1000 and 2000) where police have recommended indicting Netanyahu, and the so-called submarine affair (Case 3000), in which Netanyahu’s personal lawyers have been implicated.

Police suspect that Shaul Elovitch, owner of the Walla news site and the controlling shareholder of the Bezeq communications company, swayed coverage of Netanyahu on Walla in exchange for the Communications Ministry enacting policies potentially worth hundreds of millions of shekels for Elovitch.

Netanyahu was acting communications minister at the time. Though he has not been named as a suspect in the probe, law enforcement officials close to the case said Sunday evening that he will likely be called in to be interrogated under caution.

On Sunday morning, police said they had arrested two “very close” associates of Netanyahu — reportedly the director of a ministry and a spokesman — in so-called Case 4000, along with three senior officials in the Bezeq phone company and two relatives of one of the officials.

Three of the suspects linked to Bezeq were remanded for five days on Sunday evening on the suspicion that they gave bribes, while the two associates of the prime minister were remanded for five days on suspicion that they took bribes.

Yinon Magal, a former Jewish Home party lawmaker who once edited Walla, gave testimony to police regarding the suspicions that Walla’s coverage of Netanyahu was designed to benefit the prime minister and his family.

“In light of evidence discovered by the Israel Securities Authority in the investigation of the Bezeq case, which raised suspicions that additional offenses had been committed, a new investigation was initiated this morning by investigators from the authority and from Lahav 433,” said police on Sunday morning, referring to its anti-fraud unit.

“A number of suspects have been arrested as part of the investigation, including senior officials in the Bezeq group,” it added.

The Director of the Communications Ministry, Shlomo Filber is suspected accused of illicitly allowing Bezeq to buy shares of Yes, a satellite cable provider. He was appointed by Netanyahu after the prime minister installed himself as communications minister in 2015.

Reports said that Walla CEO Ilan Yeshua is a key witness in the case, and that he said he faced intense pressure to bury negative reporting about Netanyahu and encourage positive reporting about his wife, Sara.

Hadashot TV news reported that a strong body of evidence has been gathered, pointing to numerous messages exchanged between suspects in the case.

The arrests came less than a week after police recommended indicting Netanyahu in two other graft probes.

Police said it had amassed evidence for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust by Netanyahu, in the two corruption investigations over which he has been repeatedly questioned, known as Cases 1000 and 2000.

In Case 1000, Netanyahu and his wife are alleged to have received illicit gifts from billionaire benefactors, most notably the Israeli-born Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, totaling NIS 1 million ($282,000). In return, Netanyahu is alleged by police to have intervened on Milchan’s behalf in matters relating to legislation, business dealings, and visa arrangements.

Case 2000 involves a suspected illicit quid-pro-quo deal between Netanyahu and Mozes that would have seen the prime minister weaken a rival daily, the Sheldon Adelson-backed Israel Hayom, in return for more favorable coverage from Yedioth.

The prime minister has also been linked indirectly to Case 3000, a large investigation into suspected corruption surrounding the multi-billion shekel purchase of naval vessels and submarines from a German shipbuilder. While Netanyahu has not been named as a suspect, close associates of his, including his personal aides, have been arrested or questioned.

Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing in the various cases.