Lawmakers on Monday harshly criticized law enforcement officials after a Channel 10 News report raised questions over the integrity of the judge and the lead Israeli Securities Authority investigator assigned to Case 4,000, the latest corruption case involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Case 4,000 centers on potentially illicit dealings and conflict of interest involving Israeli telecom corporation Bezeq and the Walla news website, which Bezeq owns. The police allege that Bezeq's controlling shareholder Shaul Elovitch ensured positive coverage of the Netanyahu family by Walla in exchange for the prime minister promoting government regulations worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the company.
Channel 10 News on Sunday exposed a string of text messages between Tel Aviv Magistrates' Court Judge Ronit Poznanski-Katz and ISA attorney Eran Shaham-Shavit suggesting the two had coordinated the detention proceedings of the arrested suspects.
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked denounced their conduct and Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit has ordered an investigation into the matter.
Poznanski-Katz has recused herself from the case. Tel Aviv Magistrates' Court President Judge Avichai Doron has informed Chief Justice Esther Hayut that Poznanski-Katz will not conduct any hearings until the end of the disciplinary process and said she was about to go on a sabbatical.
The Israel Securities Authority announced that Shaham-Shavit has been placed on leave until the matter is resolved.
Case 4,000 has been assigned to Judge Ala Masarwa.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said Monday that the report called into question the legal proceedings in Case 4,000 so far, saying they should be reviewed.
"Judge Poznanski-Katz and the investigator are done. They [the State Attorney's Office] should consider launching a criminal investigation into this appalling affair," he said.
Coalition Chairman MK David Amsalem told Army Radio Monday that the incident was proof of the "obsessive" way in which law enforcement authorities were pursuing criminal charges against Netanyahu.
"This is not a new problem and this won't end with this judge. Over the last two years, the police have been obsessively chasing the prime minister in order to bring him down. And now look what is happening," he said.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called for Poznanski-Katz to be suspended.
"We must not allow the public to lose confidence in the judiciary," he tweeted.
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely tweeted, "The story reported by Channel 10 about the coordination between Judge Poznanski-Katz and the ISA investigator is inconceivable. This is a moment of professional disgrace that must be dealt with properly."
Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said it was "shocking to see the heads of the legal system try to cover up these allegations against Judge Poznanski-Katz, all to stop a criminal investigation into her conduct. If the legal proceedings were indeed tainted and people were remanded to custody over it, then this is an extremely serious criminal offense.
"I expect the Israel Police to investigate this with the same enthusiasm as it does other cases. This is a test for law enforcement in Israel, particularly the judiciary, if they seek to preserve public confidence."
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid called the incident "appalling," saying it showed "contempt for the courts and contempt toward the public."
Zionist Union leader Avi Gabbay said, "A judge who coordinates detention with a prosecutor has no place in a courtroom." He added that the matter does little to mitigate the suspicions against Netanyahu.
Zionist Union MK Revital Swid said, "The correspondence between the judge and the Securities Authority official is a very serious crossing of boundaries. Such coordination of positions between a lawyer and a judge constitutes a severe blow to the public's faith in the judicial system and it harms the sanctity of the rule of law.
"Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Chief Justice Esther Hayut must urgently investigate this matter and take action against those who sully the judiciary," she said.
Habayit Hayehudi MK Bezalel Smotrich urged the suspension of the judge and the investigator, saying that under the circumstances, all the suspects in Case 4,000 – Elovitch, his wife, son and several senior Bezeq officials, as well as former Communications Ministry Director General Shlomo Filber and spokesman Nir Hefetz, two of Netanyahu's closest confidants – must be released immediately.
"We cannot risk, even in the slightest, their being deprived of their freedom over tainted proceedings," he said.
Zionist Union MK Ksenia Svetlova tweeted, "Judge Poznanski-Katz's conduct has tainted due process, which is part of the rule of law in a democracy. This right is not a recommendation; it stands for everyone, even those suspected of serious crimes. We have our work cut out for us to restore the public's faith in the legal system."
