Coalition chairman MK Miki Zohar was questioned under caution on Thursday for three to four hours, following suspicion that he extorted Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit.
Immediately after the investigation, Zohar told Israel Hayom: "An MK is interviewed on the radio, and is investigated for extortion. Does that make sense? Could there be any bigger attempt to shut us up? Is there a better way to silence Knesset members? It's a disgrace."
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Likud lawmakers responded with outrage to the investigation into Zohar's comments. Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin said, "As Knesset Speaker, I cannot accept a situation in which an MK is investigated for remarks made while performing their public duty. Immunity for MKs is designed to prevent exactly this scenario, to ensure that they can criticize the institutions of power and express their opinions without fear. I expect the leaders of all the factions in the Knesset to band together and demand an end to the investigation."
Former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said, "Investigating MK Zohar because of the pathetic remark for which he apologized is a mark of Cain on the system of democratic law enforcement."
Regional Cooperation Minister Ofir Akunis said, "A four-hour investigation over an elected official's comment about the attorney general is unacceptable."
Opposition MK Yair Golan also responded to the police investigation, saying, "Miki Zohar is just a soldier. The entire Right is working to smash the system of law enforcement and Bibi Netanyahu is overseeing the process."
The instruction to investigate Zohar was make by Deputy State Attorney Nurit Litman.
Zohar was questioned at the police station in Shoham by investigators from the Central District Police's intelligence unit. He denied the allegations against him and said repeatedly he had expressed a personal opinion in a radio interview following Channel 12's publication of parts of a conversation Mendelblit held with former Israeli Bar Association head Effi Naveh.
In the recordings, Mendelblit is heard voicing harsh criticism against former State Attorney Shai Nitzan for, according to Mendelblit, failing to make a decision about the Harpaz affair, in which the attorney general is being investigated.
Speaking to 103 FM, Zohar said, "Everything is clear now, and I'm telling you that this is the tip of the iceberg. If Mendelblit doesn't resign and cancel the indictments [against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu], we will expose more."
Immediately after the investigation, Zohar told Israel Hayom: "An MK is interviewed on the radio, and is investigated for extortion. Does that make sense? Could there be any bigger attempt to shut us up? Is there a better way to silence Knesset members? It's a disgrace."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
