Likud accuses Nissenkorn of seeking elections due to deal with Mandelblit
“To whoever is attempting to spread ridiculous lies and invent a scandal, you will not deter me for a single moment from defending the rule of the law," Nissenkorn tweeted.
By GIL HOFFMANAvi Nissenkorn attends an emergency conference on disasters at construction sites in Israeli, at the Knesset, on May 27, 2019(photo credit: NOAM REVKIN FENTON/FLASH90)
Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn vigorously denied accusations from the Likud Party on Friday that he was deliberately torpedoing efforts to prevent an election, due to a conspiracy with Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit.Nissenkorn, who leads Blue and White’s coalition negotiating team, has been the least willing to compromise among the party’s leaders. He has refused the Likud’s demands to form a committee on political appointments, while other figures in Bue and White were willing to give in.In an official statement, the Likud said Nissenkorn was being tough, because Mandelblit had closed a criminal case against him. The Likud said the case was initiated by then-interim state prosecutor Dan Eldad, who Nissenkorn fired and replaced with Mandelblit.“Was a case closed in return for an appointment and an appointment in return for closing a case?” the Likud asked. “Mandelblit and Nissenkorn will have to give answers to the public immediately.”Nissenkorn responded on Twitter by saying “To whoever is attempting to spread ridiculous lies and invent a scandal, you will not deter me for a single moment from defending the rule of the law. Miserable souls, your attacks only strengthen me.”Earlier Friday, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz convened all his MKs at the Kfar Hamaccabiah Hotel, where he is resting after back surgery.“We are not people of games and political maneuvers,” Gantz wrote on Facebook. “We are people of honor and hope, hard work, integrity and values.” Mandelblit's office released a statement in response to the allegations, reaffirming that Nissenkorn is not currently, nor was he ever, a suspect in any crime."Following media publications in 2017 that raised allegations regarding the worker's union elections that involved Mr. Avi Nissenkorn, it was decided in May 2017 that the police would examine the issue," the statement read. "The police reached the conclusion that there was no justification in perusing the matter further, for several reasons, including the lack of evidence and the nature of the allegations."The statement continued to say that in May Mandelblit was told that police recommended Nissenkorn not be investigated. Additionally, "it was made clear that no new relevant information came up regarding this issue since, and there was just valid reason to inquire the issue further."
"The attorney-general asked to conduct another examination of the police recommendation and to verify the fact that the recommendation that was given in 2017 was still relevant at this time. A close examination revealed that the recommendation remained as it was and that there was no evidential basis that justified opening a criminal investigation today," the statement read.Tobias Siegal contributed to this report.
