Israeli Opposition Leader Under Investigation: Big Deal.

כ"ו לחודש השנים עשר ב' תשע"ו

JPost.com: Herzog, Deri under investigation for corruption charges
Herzog joined Shas chairman Arye Deri, who was revealed overnight to be the subject of an investigation whose circumstances are still under a gag order.

Gil Hoffman, 30/03/2016

Yitzhaq "Bougie" Herzog

Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit initiated an initial probe into alleged campaign fund-raising violations by Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog, Mandelblit’s office confirmed on Wednesday.

Herzog joined Shas chairman Arye Deri, who was revealed overnight to be the subject of an investigation whose circumstances are still under a gag order. The police probe of Herzog has been going on for months but was revealed on Wednesday.

The allegations about Herzog focus on the November 2013 Labor leadership primary, in which he defeated incumbent party chairwoman Shelly Yacimovich. Police are checking whether Herzog used nonprofit organizations to fund campaign spending that went unreported.
Politicians and activists have been questioned by investigators, who are looking into whether companies spent large sums to try to help Herzog defeat Yacimovich.

Herzog said the investigation was “an attempt at political character assassination” by the Likud and “frustrated Labor activists” who no longer support him. He vowed to cooperate with law enforcement authorities.

“I am sure the probe will prove once and for all that the allegations are delusional,” he said. “I will cooperate fully with whomever necessary in order to get to the bottom of this matter as soon as possible.”

Yacimovich made a point of not responding to the press, but MK Erel Margalit, who is considering challenging Herzog for the Labor leadership, gave him his full support and warned that Labor’s political opponents had reached a new low.
The Likud Youth organization called for opening a full-blown investigation of Herzog, noting that he remained silent when he was questioned in a similar probe in 1999 when he helped Ehud Barak win the premiership from current prime minister and Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

“A man like this is unfit to head the opposition in Israel, so he should suspend himself until the truth comes to light,” the organization said.

Zionist Union/Labor Party MK Miki Rosenthal said Herzog and Deri must be treated equally and properly investigated. He said he hoped both men emerge unscathed but if an indictment is issued against either of them, he would need to resign. (cont.)

Esser Agaroth (2¢):
One of four things could be happening here.

PM Netanyahu looking over Herzog's shoulder?

1. The first possibility is obvious. The Likud controlled government, namely Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, feels threatened by Herzog, and has decided to remove him from the playing field.

But, this is Israeli politics we are talking about here. Nothing about The State or its politics should ever be explained away this easily.

"I think I am a little screwed up." - Isaac Herzog
Herzog laughing with Jewish Home Leader Naftali Bennett at a campaign event.
(Gil Cohen Magen/AFP/Getty Images)

2. Possibility number two is that Herzog as pissed off the wrong people, those who truly in control of the State of Israel. Anyone who is actually paying attention, should see that it does not really matter if a politician commits a crime or not. If he pisses off the wrong people, say bye-bye.

3. The third possibility is that Shelly Yachimovich is more to the liking of the Powers That Be [PTB], and were only waiting for the right opportunity to put her back into a position of power.

4. The final possibility is that this is all just a set-up. Herzog will be exonerated, and shown to be clean as a whistle, and thus more appealing to the Israeli voter, and more easily slipped into a position of power to carry out the PTB's wishes.

Arutz 7 reports Herzog as saying...

"In the past 48 hours something has happened that our party has not seen for many years. Our party always ensures that its leader is spotless, and that includes me. So, as far as I am concerned, there should not be an investigation. Instead, they should call me, and I will come with answers to any charge, any story. I know that I acted honestly, cleanly and in a reasonable manner, just as I have acted all my life. Being a leader means you have to deal with malicious lies."

Labor Party leaders have always been spotless? Seriously?

Who appears to be delusional now?

And if you think that there is really any difference between the Likud and the [un-] Zionist Camp Parties, the you may be, too.