MKs to discuss trial procedures after judge texting scandal
Committee chairman says he will introduce legislation if Justice Ministry doesn’t revise communication procedures
The Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee is set to convene Monday to review communication guidelines between judges and law enforcement officials, in the wake of revelations that a judge presiding over remand extensions in the Bezeq corruption probe appeared to have coordinated with a state prosecutor.
Committee chairman MK Nissan Slomiansky (Jewish Home) warned that if the Justice Ministry failed to revise its procedures, he would introduce legislation in the Knesset that would require it to do so.
“As the days go by and the details come to light, it becomes clear that either there are no procedures in place, or there are and they are being ignored in some cases,” he said in a statement Sunday. “If the system fails to do this, we will demand it with legislation.”
Last week, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked initiated disciplinary action against Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court Judge Ronit Poznansky-Katz, who appeared to coordinate remand rulings for the suspects implicated in a corruption case involving Israeli telecom giant Bezeq.
Obtained by Channel 10 last week, the text messages between Poznansky-Katz and Israel Securities Authority attorney Eran Shacham-Shavit sparked accusations that state officials were obstructing justice, and the suspects would not receive a fair trial.
In the exchange, Shacham-Shavit told Poznansky-Katz that the Securities Authority intended to ask that some of the suspects in the probe be released and holding be remanded further.
“Try and act surprised,” he wrote.
“I’m practicing my surprised face,” she responded before apparently agreeing to the request.
A full transcript of the messages released several days later appeared to be less damning than initially reported — when only a snippet was available — showing that Poznansky-Katz and Shacham-Shavit were mainly discussing case logistics.
Judge Eliezer Rivlin, the ombudsman handling complaints against judges, ruled there would be no criminal proceedings against Poznansky-Katz, but recommended that she face a disciplinary hearing over the “highly inappropriate” exchange.
On Wednesday, Shaked accepted Rivlin’s recommendation and, along with Supreme Court President Esther Hayut, initiated the proceedings against Poznansky-Katz.
A Justice Ministry statement said the measures against Poznansky-Katz could range from an official reprimand to dismissal. She has been relieved of her duties until the disciplinary proceedings are over.
The Bezeq corruption investigation, dubbed Case 4000, involves suspicions that Bezeq owner Shaul Elovitch ordered the Walla news site, which he owns, to grant fawning coverage to the family of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in exchange for the prime minister, who was also communications minister at the time, advancing regulations benefiting him.
On Friday, the prime minister and his wife, Sara, were questioned for the first time in the case. After the five-hour interrogation, investigation officials reportedly said that Netanyahu will be hard-pressed to explain away the “concrete” suspicions and “solid” evidence against him.
Police believe the evidence they have, including testimonies, physical evidence, and audio recordings, directly ties the Netanyahus to the alleged quid pro quo scheme, according to Hadashot news.
One unnamed source told the TV station the case has “a very clear bottom line,” and that investigators do not see a way for Netanyahu to explain the evidence gathered against him.
According to the report, the Netanyahus are both likely to face further interrogation in the case.
On Sunday, the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court released Elovitch from custody, but ordered him to remain under house arrest for 10 days as the investigation continues.
Last month, police recommended that the prime minister be indicted for a series of serious corruption charges including bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in two other cases.
In Case 1000, Netanyahu and his wife are suspected of receiving illicit gifts from billionaire benefactors, amounting to some NIS 1 million ($282,000) worth of cigars and champagne from the Israeli-born Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian resort owner James Packer in return for certain benefits.
Case 2000 involves a suspected illicit quid-pro-quo deal between Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper publisher Arnon Mozes that would have seen the prime minister weaken a rival daily, the Sheldon Adelson-backed Israel Hayom, in return for more favorable coverage from Yedioth.
Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing in these cases.
The Times of Israel Community.