TV report: PM may be questioned in sub affair next week as potential suspect
AG has authorized police to interrogate Netanyahu under caution in Case 3000, according to Hadashot news; premier may also be questioned in Bezeq corruption probe
Police are expected to take testimony from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his home next week in the submarine affair, dubbed Case 3000, and could also question him as a potential suspect, Hadashot news reported Friday. Investigators may also question the prime minister in the Bezeq corruption probe, known as Case 4000.
According to the report, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has authorized investigators to take testimony from the premier, and — if the need arises — to question him under caution.
Hadashot reported that police are interested in getting Netanyahu’s version of events regarding Case 4000 as soon as possible, as officials believe key suspects in the case, several of whom have been in jail all week, could soon be released home, and could then begin communicating with one another to coordinate their statements.
In Case 4000, Netanyahu is alleged to have provided regulatory benefits to Israel’s largest telephone company, Bezeq, in exchange for Bezeq’s chief shareholder, Shaul Elovitch, giving Netanyahu and his family positive coverage on the Walla news site, which Elovitch owns.
In Case 3000, police are investigating suspected corruption surrounding a 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 his two personal lawyers, have been arrested or questioned.
On Tuesday, former Communications Ministry director-general Shlomo Filber reportedly signed a deal to become state witness and testify that he was instructed by Netanyahu to give Bezeq the benefits. Filber had his remand extended on Wednesday by 15 days, and is to stay during that time at a facility in an undisclosed location while police continue questioning him.
The Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Thursday also extended the remands of Elovitch and his wife, Iris, by four days in the quickly ballooning corruption scandal.
Hebrew-language media reported earlier on Thursday that the CEO of Walla, Ilan Yeshua, recorded the website’s owner Elovitch ordering him to slant coverage in favor of Netanyahu and his family. The recordings, handed over by Yeshua to investigators in recent days, are said to have been the trigger for Mandelblit’s decision to open the criminal investigation and also for Filber’s decision to turn state witness.
Channel 10 reported Thursday evening that in one of the recordings, Elovitch can be heard saying the favorable coverage of Netanyahu has consequences for Bezeq’s interests and that it would affect the company’s fate, strengthening the bribery suspicion.
Netanyahu was acting communications minister at the time when several allegedly illicit deals were 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. Elovitch also denies any wrongdoing.
Netanyahu has this week been linked to another affair, dubbed Case 1270, which involves his former family spokesman Nir Hefetz allegedly offering in 2015 to have judge Hila Gerstel appointed attorney general if she agreed to halt an investigation into the prime minister’s wife, Sara. Netanyahu, who has not been named as a suspect in the case, has strongly denied having anything to do with the incident, and said he thought it highly unlikely that Hefetz had advanced any such idea.
Channel 10 reported Thursday that Gerstel had refused to be confronted during her questioning on Monday with strategic adviser Eli Kamir, who allegedly received the offer from Hefetz and conveyed it to his friend Gerstel.
Police investigators were reportedly surprised by Gerstel’s refusal, with law enforcement officials sharply criticizing her for it. The attorney’s office discussed with police the option of interrogating Gerstel under caution, but eventually decided against it, the report added.
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.
Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing in all the cases.
Michael Bachner contributed to this report.
