Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Thursday, February 17, 2022

Thousands turn out to right-wing rally demanding inquiry into police spying affair

17 February 2022, 8:38 pm Edit
Right-wing activists and Likud supporters protest at Tel Aviv's Habima Square for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Pegasus affair, on February 17, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
Right-wing activists and Likud supporters protest at Tel Aviv's Habima Square for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Pegasus affair, on February 17, 2022. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)

Thousands turn out to a right-wing rally in Tel Aviv demanding a state commission of inquiry into allegations that Israel Police illegally spied on citizens by hacking into their phones.

Earlier this week, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu called on his supporters to attend the rally if they “want to ensure the future of our country.”

Many Likud MKs attend the event, but Netanyahu himself is absent. He sends a video that is played on a screen, saying that “for reasons I cannot get into, I can’t be with you in Habima Square.” He tells the crowd that “it cannot be that the police that broke the law will investigate themselves.”

Reports have swirled over the past two weeks that the Israel Police used spyware without judicial approval to target many public officials and activists, including figures central to Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial.

Prosecutors in the trial have claimed that the only person connected to the trial who was improperly hacked is former Communications Ministry director-turned-state’s witness Shlomo Filber — but that no relevant information was found or used.

Supporters of Netanyahu say that the allegations are enough to throw out the ongoing trial on multiple corruption charges.

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