Dozens arrested in Israel corruption probe
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Members of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's party among government officials held over misuse of public funds.
Last updated: 25 Dec 2014 11:33
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The investigations could strike a blow to Lieberman's party just three month before elections [EPA]
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Israeli
police have arrested more than two dozen current and former officials
in a corruption investigation, including several from the party of
Avigdor Lieberman, the foreign minister, according to a police
spokesperson.
Local
media reported on Thursday that the investigation was one of the most
"important" anti-corruption operations in the country's history and
could strike a blow to Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party just three
months away from a general election.
According to police, "millions" of shekels of public funds have allegedly been transferred to organisations close to the party.
Officials
implicated include Faina Kirshenbaum, the deputy interior minister, who
has been questioned by police. Her daughter Ronit will remain in
custody until Sunday, the spokesperson said.
Stas Misezhnikov, former tourism minister, was also detained.
Others
under investigation include Yisrael Beitenu's former campaign chief,
the former presidents of the basketball and handball federations and
several officials in charge of settlement operations in the West Bank
and Golan Heights.
A total of 24 people have been arrested while another four remain under house arrest, the spokesperson said.
According
to a recent opinion poll conducted by Israeli military radio, 40
percent of people who voted for Yisrael Beitenu in the last general
election said they were reconsidering their support for the party in the
wake of the scandal.
Lieberman refused to comment on the investigation, AFP news agency said.
He had been forced to leave the post in December 2012 following a corruption probe, but was reinstated in November last year.
Israelis
will head to the polls in March for the second general election in just
over two years after Benjamin Netanyahu dissolved parliament in
December following the breakdown of his coalition government.
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Friday, December 26, 2014
Dozens arrested in Israel corruption probe
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