Last night (Wednesday), Israel Television’s Channel One reported that it was MK Aryeh Deri who imposed upon the government the appointment of Adv. Roni Bar-On as Attorney General.
According to television reporter Ayala Hasson, the affair commenced several months ago, while Michael Ben-Yair was still serving as Attorney General. At that time, Likud member David Appel, a businessman, said to MK Aryeh Deri: "I have a perfect Attorney General for you. I refer to Adv. Roni Bar-On, who, from our point of view, has some wonderful qualities. Firstly, he is one of us. Secondly, he is a Likud activist. Thirdly, he was Tzachi Hanegbi’s trainer. The two latter qualities clear us of any suspicion of involvement in the appointment".
Deri allegedly met with Bar-On, who promised him a plea bargain whereby he would plead guilty to non-infamous offences, and thus be able to continue with his political career. Justice Minister Tzachi Hanegbi was not privy to the secret. The report stated that Deri had a tape-recording of Bar-On’s remarks, promising to arrange the plea bargain.
After Ben-Yair resigned, Deri met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Chief of Staff Avigdor Lieberman. He told them that unless Bar-On was appointed to the job, Shas would withdraw from the government. The Prime Minister accepted this demand, tabling for government approval the proposed appointment of Roni Bar-On.