Police investigate after ministers accuse pro-Netanyahu pundit Bardugo of blackmail
Though officers were in contact with Justice Minister Levin, Sports Minister Zohar, and Communications Minister Karhi, it is unclear if any of the politicians will agree to testify
Police have opened an investigation after three ministers from the ruling Likud party accused right-wing media personality Jacob Bardugo, considered a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of attempting to blackmail them.
The accusations were made last week by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Culture Minister Miki Zohar and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi. Bardugo allegedly made threats of unspecified consequences for noncompliance with his demands.
According to the Kan public broadcaster Sunday, police were in contact with the three ministers over the weekend.
The report said it remains to be seen “whether the fear of Bardugo and Netanyahu will take its toll and they will avoid giving testimony.”
Haaretz reported that Levin does not intend to appear before police, Zohar said that he was flying abroad in the coming days and will update police later, and Karhi told law enforcement he will be in touch in the coming days.
In a statement Sunday, Zohar said, “I was asked to give testimony in Bardugo’s case, but I don’t see anything criminal in his conduct so there will be no complaint lodged on my behalf.”
Kan said the decision to open an investigation was made after consultations between Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, State Attorney Amit Aisman and the head of the police investigations department, Deputy Commissioner Boaz Blatt.
Last week Levin was the first to publicly accuse Bardugo, a commentator on right-wing outlets Channel 14 and Radio Galey Israel.
“Because of personal matters, he obsessively slanders me from every platform and every day. It’s disrespectful, it’s not appropriate. It mainly helps one person, the one who calls himself the president of the Supreme Court. He wants me to be weakened from within,” Levin charged in an interview with Radio Galey Israel.
Levin has refused to recognize the appointment of Isaac Amit as chief justice.
“When a person comes to me with demands that no decent person would agree to and tells me ‘if you don’t meet these demands…’ I don’t want to use the words he said,” Levin added, without elaborating.
Following Levin’s comments on Tuesday, lawmaker Naor Shiri, from the opposition Yesh Atid party, sent an urgent letter to Baharav-Miara and to the head of the police’s investigations and intelligence division, demanding they open a criminal investigation into Bardugo.
Bardugo denied Levin’s accusations in an interview with Galey Israel, saying he had “ideological disagreements” with Levin and other right-wing ministers.
“Levin’s words have been taken to a totally bizarre place,” he said, accusing the left of seeking to sow discord on the right. “I won’t stay silent even if that angers a few people.”
The radio station in a statement expressed support for Bardugo and said it “rejects with disgust the statements of minor politicians.”
Bardugo has recently been highly critical of Levin, as well as Karhi and Zohar, for the coalition’s failure to advance its legislative agenda and for graffiti sprayed on his home — creating a months-long public feud. Levin, Karhi and Zohar are all prominent members of Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party.
“Jacob Bardugo does not represent the right – he represents himself,” Karhi tweeted Tuesday, describing the pundit as “a powerful figure who is trying to run the country according to his personal interests.”
“The threats, the pressures, and the lies are well-known and familiar. But we will not be deterred. We were not elected to please commentators with a microphone – but to serve the people of Israel,” Karhi wrote, calling on Levin to “not be afraid.”
In a separate post, Zohar offered his support to Levin, “who is vigorously leading the important reform to fix the judicial system and is dealing with threats from home and abroad.”
“Like other ministers, I too have encountered the phenomenon of threats from Jacob Bardugo, who has vested interests and has intimidated the elected representatives of the right in a despicable manner,” Zohar wrote at the time.
Bardugo had accused the three Likud ministers in February of incitement, after which graffiti with the words “you’re a mouthpiece, you’re guilty” was sprayed on his home. The accusation came a day after Zohar lashed out at the pundit in a Galey Israel interview, accusing him of hurting the right and making voters leave Likud for National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party.
On Thursday, Channel 12’s “Uvda” investigative program reported that three years ago Bardugo had asked Zohar, before he became a government minister, to help a family member be appointed to a senior public service position, and six months ago asked for assistance in assuring that a certain production company be awarded a contract with Zohar’s ministry. Zohar reportedly did not comply.
The Times of Israel Community.