Shocking Development in Holyland Affair

A surprising development in the Holyland affair: Meir Rabin, who is considered one of the main suspects in the case, is suspected of having given bribes to public figures, including Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, MK Ruhama Avraham, former MK and Minister Danny Naveh, and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Rabin’s attorney Giora Zilberstein is the one who revealed the new suspicions against his client. Speaking to IDF Radio on Monday morning, Zilberstein said that these names came up during Rabin’s court hearing conducted regarding the extension of his arrest. Zilberstein said Rabin was being accused of transferring 1 million NIS to the public figures, but he refused to provide further details and would not confirm whether the bribes were given as part of the Holyland affair or as part of a different investigation. He added that Rabin denies the allegations.

MK Ruhama Avraham responded to the allegations and referred to them as “nonsense”. She added that she never met Rabin, and said she plans to instruct her lawyer to sue for libel and file a criminal complaint against anyone who accuses her of such things.

In his opening remarks at the Yisrael Beiteinu meeting, Lieberman said: “I was very surprised that my name hadn’t been mentioned in connection with any cases lately, and this morning I was relieved.” Lieberman’s communications advisor said that the allegations are not worthy of any consideration.

Naveh also denied the allegations and said: “It’s too bad that names like mine are disseminated so casually into the air.” He added only someone with a wild imagination could mention his name in connection with this affair.

Shas MKs also protested the publication. MK Nissim Zeev told Ynet: “Evil is he who slanders our master, even in a hint. This is an insult to a sage of Israel and this is a very serious matter. This is complete nonsense. I don't know this person, Rabin. He is not close to the wise man Ovadia and has never been in his home. This is all nonsense.”

Minister Meshulam Nahari, also a Shas member, was quoted in Ynet as saying: “Rabbi Ovadia does not engage in such things and has nothing to do with them. He is far from it. Anything that has to do with Shas, people immediately think about Rabbi Ovadia. There is a lot of disinformation when it comes to the Holyland affair.”

Israel Police said that Zilberstein’s statements to the press were made under his discretion and that he was the one solely responsible for his statements, and asked that they not be attributed to the police, its investigators or anyone speaking on its behalf.

Rabin’s arrest was extended Monday. In his decision, Judge Avraham Tal said the following which was quoted in Ynet: “A review of the planned investigation activities and the activities already carried out shows that the police are operating intensively and efficiently to advance the probe, and the lack of cooperation at the stage on Rabin's part does not contribute to its progress.

“He is entitled not to cooperate with his investigators, and is not disclosing the reason why he won’t cooperate, but he must know that the investigation will naturally be prolonged, and if his release my sabotage it he will have to remain under arrest until the operation activities which may be sabotaged by his release are carried out.”