In responding today to the serious corruption affair in which Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Fania Kirshenbaum and former minister Stas Misezhnikov, both of the Yisrael Beitenu party headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman, the party said that the motivations for the investigation were political.
"As has occurred in every election campaign since Yisrael Beitenu was founded in 1999, the police have again conducted widely publicized arrests and an investigation into people in the party," the response read.
Yisrael Beitenu added, "Had the investigation been revealed before new elections were announced, or after they were over, it might have been thought that it was an objective matter, but the fact that this was again done during an election campaign indicates above all the intentions behind it - to damage Yisrael Beitenu."
"We are confident that these people are innocent, and confident that as in previous instances, after the noise dies down and the media carnival subsides, it will emerge that there is nothing behind these reports other than an unsuccessful wish to harm Yisrael Beitenu.
Police Commissioner: I reject Yisrael Beitenu's allegations
Israel Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino strongly rejects Yisrael Beitenu's allegations against the police.
Responding to the party's accusations that the timing by which the bribery investigation against the party leadership was revealed constitutes political harassment, Danino today said, "Israel Police has proven over the years that it has done its best to combat public corruption using all the means at its disposal, and it will continue to do so, in line with its duty to maintain the democratic character of the state evenhandedly and without bias."
Danino added, "The investigation has been conducted for a year, and the change to an open investigation is a result of an assessment of the evidence and its readiness, and was made from purely professional considerations. This was done in consultation with the Attorney General and the State Attorney, and after weighing an array of considerations, including sensitivity during the elections."
Danino held discussions with Investigations and Intelligence head Major General Manny Yitzhaki, Lahav 433 unit head Major General Roni Whitman, and National Fraud Unit head Brigadier General Ephraim Bracha, and sought to "strengthen their hand and that of the policemen who have been dealing with this grave affair for over a year with professionalism and determinations in order to arrive at the truth."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 24, 2014
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