The State Prosecutor has offered Holon Chief Rabbi Avraham Yosef Shlita to close the criminal investigation against him in exchange for him stepping down as the city’s Chief Rabbi.

About two years ago, Rabbi Avraham Yosef, who viewed himself as a candidate to become Chief Rabbi of Israel, was compelled to drop out of the race amid allegations against him that he abused his authority as the Chief Rabbi of Holon. Rav Yosef was a leading candidate to become Rishon L’Tzion, backed by his late father, HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L. An investigation was launched against the rabbi for allegedly using the weight of his position and office to compel restaurants seeking a mehadrin hashgacha to use Badatz Beit Yosef, which is run by another son of Rav Ovadia, Rav Moshe Yosef Shlita.

Kikar Shabbos News quotes a source in the know commenting “The rabbi will not comply with the request which in essence means abandoning his life’s work when essentially he is untainted”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)