GuardianIsrael’s police have said they are investigating dozens of public figures and politicians in a major corruption case that could affect upcoming elections.
The politicians involved were not named in Wednesday’s announcement, but after a year-long covert operation, police said they are investigating 30 suspects including a deputy minister, a former minister, mayors and others.
In a statement, police said officials are suspected of nepotism, and illegal transferring of funds.
The deputy interior minister, Faina Kirshenbaum, of Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party, confirmed that she had been called in for questioning while denying any wrongdoing.
“I am sure of my integrity and I have no clue what the investigation is about,” Kirshenbaum told Channel 2 TV.
Lieberman, the current minister of foreign affairs, was previously investigated for corruption, but was cleared of wrongdoing in 2013.
Lieberman’s party could play a pivotal role in the elections. He has traditionally allied with the rightwing bloc but recent comments have raised questions about a potential strategic shift.
Lieberman criticised the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, for his strategy in talks with the Palestinians during a conference at Tel Aviv University on Tuesday. He warned that Israel would face a “diplomatic tsunami” and its economy and foreign relations would suffer without an agreement. US-brokered peace talks collapsed last spring.
Lieberman’s nationalist party has a history of taking a hardline approach towards Palestinians and Lieberman lives in a West Bank settlement.
His comments add uncertainty to the March election as it raises the possibility he might not automatically align his party with Netanyahu’s rightwing bloc.
“The politicians involved were not named in Wednesday’s announcement, but after a year-long covert operation, police said they are investigating 30 suspects including a deputy minister, a former minister, mayors and others.”
30?… wow…
… a drop in the ocean.