Lt. Col. Without a Uniform, Spy Without the Mossad: The Bizarre Resume of the Likud Candidate

A new Channel 12 investigation raises questions about details presented by Likud candidate Mishael Ben Ami, including the rank of Lt. Col., a doctorate, and activity in Iran. The IDF did not recognize him as an officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel, and the degree was reportedly awarded by a university defined as "fictitious." Ben Ami rejects the claims.

A Channel 12 investigation, aired as part of an interview with Omri Maniv, raises questions about details presented by Likud candidate Mishael Ben Ami. Among other things, it is claimed that he presented himself as a reserve lieutenant colonel, but the IDF did not recognize him as an officer of that rank. Ben Ami explained that it was a representative rank he received during his work with volunteers, but even the association they contacted did not recognize his name. Additionally, it is claimed that his doctorate was awarded by a university defined as "fictitious," and that he was previously called to give testimony to the police in an investigation dealing with the sale of degrees from that university. In a recorded interview that was exposed, Ben Ami is heard saying he was a "spy" in Iran, entered the Iranian parliament, and shook hands with Ahmadinejad, but in a conversation with Maniv he distanced himself from the definition "spy" and said "I did not work with the Mossad." In response, Ben Ami rejects the claims, says he was a commander of a foreign volunteers unit with a representative rank, did a doctorate at York University, and denies spreading conspiracies.