Despite the State Attorney’s intention to recommend indictments against Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit gave his approval for the appointment of Deri as minister in the fifth Netanyahu government.
According to the report in Yediot Achronot, the legal system believes that the legal decision regarding Deri’s file is far from a final decision: Even if Mandelblit decides to prosecute him, he is still awaiting a hearing, and the process may take several months, including waiting for the attorney general’s decision.
A legal source made it clear to Yediot that the fact that the police recommended that Deri be charged with tax offenses and money laundering and not bribery weakens one of the main reasons for disqualifying him from serving as a minister at this stage.
It should be noted that State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan believes that the appointment of Deri should be prevented because of the fact that he was convicted in the past and is now expected to recommend that he be tried again.
It should be emphasized that even in 2015, Nitzan opposed the appointment of Deri to the minister because of his conviction in the past and despite the fact that the investigation has not yet been opened, but the legal advisor approved the appointment and the High Court justices accepted the attorney general’s recommendation.
Despite objections from Nitzan, Mandelblit gave his approval on Tuesday.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Why do some Israelis so love crooked politicians – convicted felons like Deri? I know nothing about Deri’s politcal views, but I know he is a convicted felon. That disqualifies him as far as I am concerned. (I am an American, not an Israeli, have no vote in Israeli elections.)
To: huju
Why are you saying he is crooked?
They did a real witch hunt on him. The Israeli government used about 25 police detectives for about 3 years
They tried desperately to find even 1 small mistake.
Huju, hate to break it to you, but Deri was convicted in a secular court according to gentile laws and procedures. Even if he did commit a crime, he was not found guilty by Dayanim in a kosher Beis Din that ruled according to Din Torah. According to Torah law, there is no basis to call him a “felon.”