In hot mic moment, ministers can’t believe Netanyahu’s luck
Aryeh Deri and Israel Katz incredulous, after alleged correspondence between judge and investigator overshadows corruption trial
Two ministers did not realize they were being recorded when they joked with each other about the incredible luck of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after revelations of possible collusion by a judge and a public prosecutor in one of the cases connected to Netanyahu.
The Knesset Channel news aired a hot mic segment in which Transportation Minister Israel Katz (Likud) and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas) banter about Netanyahu’s “luck” in his police investigations.
They were apparently referring to a text exchange leaked last night that appeared to show possible collusion by a judge and one of the investigators in Case 4000, in which Netanyahu is reportedly to be questioned as a suspect.
The airing of the text exchange prompted a backlash against the investigation, with some Netanyahu allies saying it shored up claims the deck is stacked against the prime minister.
“How much luck does Bibi have?! How much luck? Tell me, how much luck?” said Deri in the recording, seemingly amazed.
“Yes,” Katz replied.
“It’s something else,” Deri said, giggling.
“Unbelievable,” said Katz. “Unbelievable,” echoed Deri, and then Katz said, “Yalla, we’re in favor.”
“I appeared [on the news] on Saturday night. I backed him up,” Katz said, leaning closer to Deri and covering his mouth so the camera would not catch his lip movements.
“I also appeared on Saturday night and supported [him], but look at that luck!” Deri exclaimed.
Deri himself was questioned last week for the eighth time, in an ongoing investigation into a slew of corruption suspicions against him.
You can watch the full exchange (Hebrew), which took place during a birthday celebration for Deri, here:
ועכשיו עם הסרטון.
שיחה בין השרים כ"ץ ודרעי על הוואטספים בפרשת 4000 כפי נקלטה במיקרופון ערוץ הכנסת. pic.twitter.com/MyKZZQfbho— Yanir Cozin – יניר קוזין (@yanircozin) February 26, 2018
Case 4000 involves suspicions that the chairman and controlling shareholder of the telecommunications giant Bezeq, Shaul Elovitch, ordered the Walla news site, which he owns, to grant positive coverage to Netanyahu and his family, in exchange for the prime minister allegedly advancing regulations benefiting Bezeq and Elovitch.
Netanyahu is not currently a suspect in the case, but a number of his close aides are, and police are reportedly considering making him one in the coming days.
