The newest corruption case unfolding in Israel is called “1803”, and it involves the arrests and detention of 17 people for questioning by police on Sunday morning, 15 Kislev. According to the police, the suspicions in the file include links between criminal elements and various officials in local and municipal government.

The head of the Police Investigations and Intelligence Branch, Deputy-Commissioner Meni Yitzchaki spoke with Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and informed him that Coalition Chairman MK (Likud) David Bitan will be summoned for questioning on Sunday regarding the period of time he served as the head of the city’s building and planning board.

“In the early hours of the morning, the open stage of the investigation began, during which 17 suspects were arrested and detained,” the police said in the first announcement, referring to the expected timing of the arrests. Among those arrested are senior Rishon L’Tzion City Hall officials. Offices and homes were raided, and documents, computers and other items confiscated.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)