Herzog claims political muckraking behind graft probe

A day after it was revealed that opposition leader Isaac Herzog was under investigation for graft, the Zionist Union list chairman struck back at claims of financial wrongdoing, charging the timing of the preliminary probe and its publication in the media were politically motivated.

“We aren’t suckers, we know why this happens, and whoever is responsible will feel a political impact from it for many years. I am not worried about any investigation, and I will cooperate with every procedure asked of me,” Herzog said.

He did not indicate who he believed to be responsible for alleging he violated campaign financing laws in his successful 2013 bid to take over the Labor Party.

“Each time before general or internal elections, there are political sources that attempt to use the police as part of their campaigns. We are very familiar with this path; we have dealt with it in the past, and we will respond strongly to any attempt to make the police part of an election campaign,” he said.

Earlier on Thursday, state prosecutor Shai Nitzan recused himself from the case over a conflict of interest, Haaretz reported. Citing Justice Ministry officials, the report said Nitzan disassociated himself from the investigation over “familiarity with one of those involved with police.”

After Herzog was named as the second lawmaker under investigation for graft along with Interior minister Aryeh Deri on Wednesday, the Zionist Union chairman was quick to dismiss the probe as a product of “delusional political muckraking” promoted by the Likud party and “frustrated activists” before last year’s Knesset elections.

Although Herzog has a relatively positive reputation, this isn’t the first time he has faced suspicions relating to campaign funding.

He once memorably exercised his right to remain silent when he was investigated in 1999 as cabinet secretary, in connection with alleged campaign funding irregularities on the part of then-prime minister Ehud Barak.

Deri, who earlier this week revealed he was again the center of a major corruption investigation, has also vowed to fully cooperate with the police investigation.

Suspicions against Deri reportedly relate to his alleged ownership of several properties around the country, including a large vacation home in northern Israel town of Safsufa.

“Yesterday I found out that my wife and I have become real estate moguls,” Deri said sarcastically Thursday, according to Channel 2. “We have had an apartment for about 25 years, in which we raised nine children and for which we are still paying the mortgage. In addition, we have a vacation home in Safsufa for the extended family, including the grandchildren.”

Deri served 22 months in prison from 2000 to 2002 for taking bribes while serving as interior minister, and returned to politics in 2011, before resuming leadership of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party shortly before the 2015 Knesset elections.

He returned to head the Interior Ministry earlier this year, after a court ruled his prior conviction did not disqualify him from the post.

The case could have dramatic repercussions for Deri, as well as for his party’s place in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s narrow ruling coalition.

Both Herzog and Deri were accused of committing the alleged crimes by members of their respective parties Channel 2 reported Wednesday.

Investigations into both lawmakers are in a preliminary stage, and neither has been questioned by police, though sources close to investigation said it would be “unavoidable” that Deri be questioned under caution.

Adiv Sterman contributed to this report.