Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit on Wednesday authorized another investigation by the Israel Police Major Crimes Unit into the motives behind the attempt to pass a law meant to muzzle Israel Hayom after new evidence surfaced on the issue.
According to a report by Kan public broadcaster, the police plan to question under warning Zionist Union MK Eitan Cabel, who sponsored the bill, on suspicion that he colluded with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes to pass the legislative proposal.
The bill, introduced in 2014, sought to bar the free distribution of mass-circulation daily newspapers, a business model introduced to the Israeli print media market by Israel Hayom.
Lawmakers from across the political spectrum backed the bill, claiming that the free distribution of dailies undermines fair competition between newspapers.
The bill was tailored to target Israel Hayom, as it defines a free daily newspaper as one distributed six days a week that contains at least 30 pages on weekdays and 100 pages on weekends – stipulations that by definition excluded other free dailies such as publisher Eli Azur's Israel Post, which is published five days a week.
According to the report, new information provided by Nir Hefetz, a former Prime Minister's Office bureau chief turned state's witness in Case 4,000, prompted the police to re-examine another case – Case 2,000 – for additional evidence pertaining to the anti-Israel Hayom bill.
Case 2,000 centers on conversations Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had with Mozes, during which they allegedly discussed striking an illicit deal by which Yedioth would soften its aggressive anti-Netanyahu stance in return for the prime minister using his influence to curtail Israel Hayom's activities in ways that would benefit Yedioth financially.
Cabel was questioned in Case 2,000 in the past on suspicion of fraud, breach of trust and obstruction of justice. The report said the police decided to interrogate him again, as new evidence called his earlier testimony into question.
At the time, it was believed Cabel colluded with Mozes, pushing the anti-Israel Hayom bill in exchange for favorable coverage in Yedioth Ahronoth.
Both Cabel and Mozes have denied any wrongdoing.
According to Kan's report, Hatnuah Chairwoman Tzipi Livni is also expected to be questioned in the case. Netanyahu, whom the police recommended be indicted in the case, may be questioned as well.
