Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar was summoned for a second round of questioning with the National Crime Unit (Lahav 433) regarding an ongoing investigation into the Histadrut corruption affair, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported on Thursday.
According to KAN, Zohar’s first round of questioning on Sunday lasted for 11 hours.
Also on Thursday, Histadrut labor federation chairman Arnon Bar-David issued a statement declaring that if an indictment is filed against him, he will resign from his position and “go out to fight for [his] innocence.”
Investigators suspect the Likud party member of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. He has since denied the allegations, saying he has “no connection whatsoever to the case.”
Police probe widens on Histadrut corruption case
The questioning came as the police probe continued to widen on Sunday, with Zohar becoming one of the most prominent public officials drawn into the affair so far.
The case centers on alleged corruption linked to the Histadrut and businessman Ezra Gabay, who has been identified as a central suspect.
Zohar is considered close to Gabay, the owner of Gabay Insurance and a key suspect in what has been described in earlier reporting as a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” affair.
Police are examining whether offenses, including bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, were committed as part of the broader Histadrut case.