In what some view as widespread corruption among senior government officials, Attorney General Menachem Mazuz on Sunday announced a multi-count criminal indictment is being handed down against former Finance Minister Avraham Hirschson, who will face charges including money laundering, breech of trust, fraud and bribery. Both Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik and Hirschson’s attorney were made aware of the attorney general’s move.

The indictment addresses Hirschson in his capacity as chairman of the Histadrut National Labor Federation during 1998-2005. Together with Ovadia Cohen, he allegedly conspired to embezzle funds from the Histadrut as well as the Nili educational organization, having channeled over $720,000 to his private bank accounts.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)