Police: Suspects in Bezeq probe ‘blatantly’ tried to obstruct it

Law enforcement authorities on Tuesday said some of the suspects in the Bezeq fraud case, the latest corruption probe involving associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are suspected of trying to obstruct the probe.

A number of the suspects “blatantly attempted to obstruct the investigation and to prevent investigators from gathering evidence in the case,” the Israel Police and Israel Securities Authority said in a joint statement.

The unusual statement from the ISA, which rarely names suspects or suspicions, detailed the identities of the arrested officials and said that suspicions related to corruption offenses “that were committed over a significant period of time, frequently and systematically.”

The statement also noted that the investigation, which was announced on Sunday, is a “branch” of a probe launched in June 2017 into suspected corruption at Bezeq, Israel’s largest telecom company.

Police lifted a gag order early Tuesday on the case, revealing the names of seven people who were arrested earlier this week.

Among those arrested and ordered held for five days were Shaul Elovitch, the owner of the Walla news website and the controlling shareholder of Bezeq; his wife, Iris; and his son Or.

Also held were the director general of the Communications Ministry, Shlomo Filber; former Netanyahu family spokesman Nir Hefetz; Bezeq CEO Stella Handler; and senior Bezeq executive Amikam Shorer.

Netanayhu and his wife, Sara, are also expected to be questioned in the probe, reportedly as suspects. Known as Case 4000, the investigation revolves around suspicions that Netanyahu enacted policies potentially worth hundreds of millions of shekels to Elovitch in exchange for positive coverage on Walla.

Netanyahu was acting communications minister at the time several alleged illicit deals made with Elovitch, one of which included helping Bezeq buy the satellite cable provider Yes, overriding antitrust issues raised by ministry officials. The prime minister, who is reportedly suspected of furthering that deal, denies any wrongdoing.

Police on Tuesday arrested a prominent strategic adviser who is suspected of being a link between Elovitch and the Communications Ministry, the Ynet news site reported.

Boaz Stembler, a former Netanyahu spokesman who currently heads the Israel Government Advertising Agency, told investigators that he had passed on requests to figures in Walla regarding coverage of the Netanyahu family, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Tuesday.

On Monday, Elovitch “categorically” denied the suspicions against him, saying that “no offense has been committed.”

“We urge patience and not to rush to conclusions,” he said in a statement. “We are confident that when things become clear, it will be possible to see that no offense has been committed.”

Last week, police recommended that Netanyahu be indicted for fraud, breach of trust and bribery in two other cases.

In Case 1000, Netanyahu and his wife are alleged to have received illicit gifts from billionaire benefactors, most notably the Israeli-born Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, totaling NIS 1 million ($282,000). In return, Netanyahu is alleged by police to have intervened on Milchan’s behalf in matters relating to legislation, business dealings, and visa arrangements.

Case 2000 involves a suspected illicit quid-pro-quo deal between Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth 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.

The prime minister has also been linked indirectly to Case 3000, a large investigation into suspected corruption surrounding the multi-billion-shekel purchase of naval vessels and submarines from a German shipbuilder. While Netanyahu has not been named as a suspect, close associates of his, including two personal aides, have been arrested or questioned.

Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing in all the cases.