Culture minister says he was probed on ‘purely political issues’ during police questioning

Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar claims that he was asked about “purely political issues” while being questioned by police yesterday as part of a major corruption investigation into the Histadrut labor federation.

“As you know, I was asked yesterday to come and give my version of events. I answered all the questions I was asked, which, to my great regret, were all centered around purely political issues. I took the opportunity to explain extensively to the investigators how Israeli politics has always operated, without exception, and yes, that includes us in the Likud,” Zohar says in a video message posted to his X account.

“I can summarize by saying that I entered this investigation as a proud Likudnik, and I left it an even prouder Likudnik,” he adds.

Hebrew outlets reported yesterday that the Likud minister was questioned about his ties to the main suspect in the affair, Ezra Gabay. The insurance agent is thought to have exploited his close connections to Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David and Likud party officials to fix jobs for associates in the organization.

Zohar confirmed the summons in a social media post yesterday, saying he arrived yesterday morning for questioning in order to “respond to all the questions and to refute all the claims that will arise.”

“My friendships with various people cannot turn me into a suspect. I have no doubt that the full answers I will provide will refute everything and clarify that I have no connection to this affair,” he wrote on X.

Zohar is one of several high-profile Likud members currently under investigation or accused of criminal activity. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial for corruption, while Social Equality Minister May Golan is at the center of an ongoing corruption probe, and Knesset Finance Committee chairman Hanoch Milwidsky is being investigated over allegations of rape and witness tampering.