Report: Netanyahu's chief of staff transferred the information that led to the investigation of Ra'am activists
A report on N12: Netanyahu's chief of staff, Ydo Norden, transferred information to the police that led to the investigation of three Ra'am activists on suspicion of election bribery. Law enforcement sources assess the case as weak. Seven suspects have been arrested so far.
This evening (Thursday), it was reported on Gey Peleg's program on N12 that the chief of staff of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ydo Norden, was the one who transferred to the police the information that led to the investigation of three Ra'am activists on suspicion of election bribery. According to the report, Norden spoke with senior police officials and provided them with the details that prompted the investigation. Senior law enforcement sources assess that the case against the three suspects is weak and will likely not lead to an indictment. So far, seven suspects have been arrested in the affair. The first three suspects, residents of the Segev Shalom and Ar'ara BaNegev areas who serve as school principals, were arrested the night before the elections on suspicion of attempting to bribe voters in exchange for voting for Ra'am. This morning, four additional suspects were arrested. Meanwhile, the Shin Bet is investigating suspicions of foreign funding and improper influence on the elections, in a separate affair unrelated to the police investigation. Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas denied any connection of his party to the affair and attacked Netanyahu for a campaign of incitement against Arab citizens.