Today’s Holyland investigation took a major turn that resulted in a media frenzy, when attorney for Meir Rabin, the chief suspect in the case, who remains in custody, spoke to Galei Tzahal (Army Radio).
Attorney Giora Zilberstein stated his client was questioned by police regarding the transfer of funds to a number of well-known personalities, mentioning Chacham HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef Shlita, stating the sum mentioned was NIS 1 million. Other names mentioned were Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, MK (Kadima) Ruchama Avraham and former Likud MK and cabinet minister, Danny Naveh.
Reports from Maran Rav Ovadia’s study indicate no comment is being released in response to the accusations. Israel Police officials state they are not about to comment on statements released by a third party regarding an ongoing investigation. Shas MK Nissim Ze’ev released a statement, having harsh words for Meir Rabin for even hinting at anything that may slander the Rav’s Shlita name, denying that any illegal funds were transferred to Rav Yosef.
At the start of a Yisrael Beitenu faction meeting on Monday, Avigdor Lieberman stated “I am in good company with Rabbi Yosef. I am glad I was not forgotten. I am truly happy,” hinting to the fact that he has been under investigation for one while collar case or another for some 13 years, but never has there been evidence to indict him. He preceded his comments with a statement that he is surprised that for two days arrests and allegations are being announced and yet he is not being mentioned.
Both Avraham and Naveh released statements calling the allegations absurd and far from the truth. In the meantime, there was a media frenzy at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Monday afternoon, as police and the press awaited the arrival of Shula Zaken, the former personal manager and bureau chief of Ehud Olmert, who landed at 2:30pm local time on El Al flight 006 from Los Angeles. There is much speculation as to how she will respond to questions in the Holyland affair, and if she will provide evidence to assist police in building a case against the former prime minister. In her questioning sessions in the past, Zaken reportedly did not give any information that may have incriminated her former employer.
In any event, upon her arrival in Israel she was not summoned for questioning as some believed would be the case, but placed under arrest.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
5 Responses
I just got off the phone with an individual who is one of the right hands of Maran Hagaon R’ Ovadia Yosef and this person told me ‘This is a mockery of a Gaon and a Gadol hador – How dare they accuse him’!
Y.A.
So from this we are to understand that being the Gadol ha-Dor (to almost all frum Sefardim, which probably means a plurality of all Orthodox Jews) gives you the power to regulate zoning in Eretz Yisrael???????????
or as I said before, the “hava mina” of the hiloni case, at least as pertains to the aspects that interest us, is that for anyone to donate money to a frum tsadakkah is considered to be a bribe to any and all frum politicians, and therefore hilonim are prohibited from supporting tsadakkah
The halacha is that with regard to a tzadik, we have to be dan lekaf zechus even if the evidence is very increminating.
With a beinoni, if the evidence is very increminating, one is not mechuyav to be dan lekaf zechus, but midas chasidus would be do do so anyway. (See Chafetz Chaim, and Rabeinu Yona Shar 3)
Lets all keep this in mind.
Thanks PachadYitzchakFan.
I am suspending judgement until we know more.
I cant believe that such a statement would be announced during sfirat haomer. The lashon hara!!! My goodness!! What din this is causing on us in shamayim….Hashem yirachem!!