Quoted By:
CASE 4000 (TELECOM GIANT)
What is it?
In just one part of a broader corruption investigation combing through the business activity of Shaul Elovitch, the controlling shareholder in Israel’s Bezeq communications giant. Police reportedly suspect that Elovitch was fed insider information from the communications ministry by two close associates of Netanyahu -- Shlomo “Momo” Filber and Nir Hefetz. Netanyahu was communications minister at the time. In a similar arrangement to that alleged in Case 2000, media reports citing police say that Elovitch put pressure on editors and journalists at the popular website to cast Netanyahu and his wife Sara in a positive light and downplay negative stories about the government in exchange for concessions benefitting his telecom company, Bezeq.
Where does it stand?
Police continue to investigate. However, they were given a massive boost by convincing Filber, the ex-communications ministry chief, to turn state witness. Israeli media speculate he will could give damning evidence against Netanyahu.
What does Netanyahu say?
Netanyahu branded this probe as a “balloon that will be popped” and a media-driven “witch hunt.”
The other chief suspects have also denied wrongdoing.
