Labor candidate Binyamin Ben-Eliezer has dropped out of the presidential race just days before the election, which is set to take place on Tuesday, 12 Sivan 5774. Ben-Eliezer, who was among the leading candidates, decided he must step down after being summoned for questioning ‘under warning’ by Israel Police, suspected of accepting million of shekels from various parities including Avraham Nanikashvili. Adding to his woes are suspicions that he failed to report this income to tax officials.

When announcing his decision to bow out of the race, Ben-Eliezer stated “It appears I have been the object of a targeted assassination. From the moment I announced my candidacy I have been the target of unceasing and aggressive campaign to smear my name including innuendoes against me…I have decided, with a heavy heart, to drop out of the race.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)