Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party butted heads on Sunday with V15, a grassroots outreach group aiming to bring out the centrist vote and “change the government,” according to the group’s slogans. Then Likud and Labor traded barbs, with Netanyahu’s party claiming Labor was colluding with the V15 group to take Likud down.

Meretz kicked off its election campaign with posters saying that a vote for the left-wing party is a vote against a Zionist Camp-Likud government.

Bottlegate got hot with the state comptroller giving the attorney general all his information about complaints concerning the Prime Minister’s Residence.

The Times of Israel liveblogged election developments as they unfolded.

14:37

Likud versus V15

The Likud party holds a press conference in Tel Aviv following its appeal to the Central Elections Committee over the V15 grassroots election movement, which has launched a campaign to “change the regime.” Likud calls it a criminal violation of the elections laws.

At the press conference, Likud charges that the V15 group “operates with aid from radical leftist groups such as One Voice and Molad, who are supported by millions of dollars flowing in from Europe, the United States and the New Israel Fund” and of “intervention by international actors who are interested in deposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

“It’s a grave violation of the elections law which establishes a criminal ban on donations by foreign sources to political parties in Israel,” Likud says.

V15, short for Victory 2015, describes itself on its website as “a supra-party movement that was established by a group of young Israelis along with the announcement of elections” in December of last year. Its aim is to “change the dispiriting reality” in Israel and “take Israel to a new way.”

“We don’t belong to and don’t work for the advancement of a particular party,” V15 says. “Our aim is larger than the personal preference of each of us.”

14:58

Draft watchdog report suspected PM of ‘ethical impropriety’

A report by Channel 10 finds that the state comptroller suspected financial improprieties by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a four-year investigation, but in the end shelved publication of a report delineating alleged corruption.

The draft report, which was completed at least two and a half years ago, claims that Netanyahu, during his tenure as Ariel Sharon’s finance minister, accepted funds for travel abroad for himself, his wife and his children from foreign donors.

“The entirety of the findings described above — their seriousness, quantity and scope — reflects a harsh picture which points to acceptance of bribes by Mr. Netanyahu raising concerns of ethical impropriety,” the text of the shelved report published by Channel 10 says.

15:03

Four MKs to be investigated for corruption

Police reportedly received information raising suspicions of corruption by four members of Knesset, Ynet reports.

The four, who are suspected of transferring public funds to their relatives, will only be summoned for investigation after the elections, however.

The identities of the four MKs were not published in the report.

15:19

Meretz campaign disses Labor, Netanyahu

The Meretz party releases a campaign ad with the slogan “It’s either Meretz and [Labor Party leader Isaac] Bougie [Herzog] or Bougie and Bibi (Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu).”

“It’s either us or him,” meaning Netanyahu, the poster says, the implication being that only a vote for Meretz — not the joint Labor-Hatnua list — will prevent another Netanyahu administration.

15:47

Jewish Home minister replaced due to illness

Uri Orbach, a 54-year-old Jewish Home MK who is No. 6 on the right-wing party’s list in the upcoming elections, remains hospitalized in serious condition with a blood disease.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will declare him temporarily relieved of his post as pensioners’ affairs minister, which will be assumed by party leader Naftali Bennett.

 

16:00

Comptroller pans draft leak as ‘unacceptable’

State Comptroller Yosef Shapira responds to the leaked draft report about alleged corruption by Netanyahu and calls on Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to investigate the leak of the document.

“The state comptroller regards very seriously the leak of drafts or documents which appear to be memoranda,” the comptroller’s office says in a statement. “This is an unacceptable and inappropriate phenomenon which is a violation of the law.”

16:50

Netanyahu campaign ad likens V15 to Islamists

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu releases a video which “translates” the V15 campaign from “leftist” and says that the group receives millions of shekels from foreign governments, left-wing organizations and even the Palestinians for one aim — “just not Bibi (Netanyahu).”

The video says that the V15 group is not working for the interests of the people, just to thwart Netanyahu’s reelection. It slams Labor Party leader Isaac Herzog’s silence on the issue, and claims that the V15 group is breaking the law.

In its coup de grace, it compares V15 to Islamist terrorists, saying “don’t let these people choose for you what’s good for Israel.”

17:34

Likud lashes out against Channel 10 report

The Likud party reacts to Channel 10’s publication of a draft state comptroller report that alleges financial impropriety and corruption by Netanyahu.

“Once again it’s clear that there are no limit to the attempts to depose the Netanyahu administration, including use of illegal methods,” the party says in a statement. The party says that Netanyahu denies all allegations published in the draft, and says that only a final report is legally relevant.

“Therefore it’s clear that [Channel 10 reporter] Raviv Drucker, and everyone who quotes or publishes his words, is party to this crime, whose punishment is imprisonment,” the Likud party says.

18:32

Zionist Camp defense expert backs Syria strike

Former IDF intel chief and Zionist Camp defense minister hopeful Amos Yadlin expresses support for the government’s alleged decision to carry out an airstrike on Syrian soil last month.

“When an operational opportunity is created it rises from the bottom up, and as in any functional state the administration approves or doesn’t approve it. I don’t cast aspersions,” he says.

“I have no doubt that no consideration of elections was before [the IDF brass], only the security of Israel,” he says.

18:41

Dermer breaks protocol, sides with Patriots

In a tongue-in-cheek Twitter remark, Israel’s US Ambassador Ron Dermer says he is supporting the New England Patriots in the upcoming 49th Super Bowl.

Referring to the recent brouhaha over Netanyahu’s acceptance of an invitation to speak before Congress without consulting the White House, Dermer says that he would “break protocol” and side with the Pats.

19:16

Shapiro, Dermer both back Pats

US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro jumps into the Super Bowl spirit after Dermer’s remarks on Twitter, and something they agree upon is their support for the Patriots in tonight’s game.

19:39

Herzog thwarts claims of V15, Labor connection

Isaac Herzog swats away claims by Likud that the V15 campaign is connected to the Zionist Camp.

“I say to the Likud people straight and to the point: We have no connection whatsoever to any organization or to any outside campaign that comes to replace Netanyahu. That is a complete lie.”

The Labor Party leader says the public wants to replace Netanyahu, not just the V15 grassroots group. He criticizes Netanyahu’s use of the word “depose” concerning the organization’s aims.

“In a democracy you don’t depose the government; you replace the prime minister with a better prime minister who is more concerned about the welfare of the public, and isn’t concerned with himself,” Herzog says at a press conference.

20:43

Comptroller gives attorney general info on ‘Bottlegate’

Amid controversy surrounding “Bottlegate,” State Comptroller Yosef Shapira says he’s handed to the attorney general’s office all material and information he has concerning criticism of the Prime Minister’s Office, including the issue of bottle refunds.

21:27

Attorney general weighs in on ‘Bottlegate’

Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein is holding a meeting with senior Justice Ministry officials concerning the scandals surrounding the Prime Minister’s Residence, Israel Radio reports. At the end of the meeting they will decide on how to address each of the issues at hand, including “Bottlegate.”

22:04

Good night from The Times of Israel

We’ll have to wait for tomorrow to see what happens with “Bottlegate.” Thanks for following our liveblog.

From The Times of Israel newsroom in Jerusalem, good night.

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