The phones of senior Netanyahu advisors Ofer Golan and Yonatan Orich, who are being investigated on suspicion of harassing a state witness, were confiscated on Sunday night by the police. The two advisors allegedly harrassed ex-Communications Ministry Director-General Shlomo Filber.

Filber, who was once a close associate of Netanyahu, signed a state witness agreement last February, agreeing to testify against Netanyahu in the “Bezeq-Walla” affair (Case 4000) in exchange for a light sentence for his own alleged misdemeanors of accepting bribes, fraud and disturbing interrogation procedures.

The Lahav 433 Unit of the Israel Police began an investigation against the two men after a video circulated online during the recent election campaign of Likud activists allegedly shouting through speakers at a car near Filber’s home.

Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich fiercely condemned the confiscation of the phones, writing on Twitter: “The wholesale confiscation of the phones of the prime minister’s advisors is a frightening crossing of a glaring red line by the State Attorney’s office in every respect.”

“It’s hard to escape the feeling that the cases against Netanyahu are crumbling and the prosecution is launching an unrestricted “phishing” campaign in order to recruit state witnesses against him at any price. This is already truly approaching the level of the end of democracy.”

Netanyahu’s advisors were also questioned by the police. Amit Haddad, the lawyer for Golan, who is the Netanyahu family spokesperson and who also led the recent Likud campaign, stated that the accusations of harassment are baseless.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)