Netanyahu Accused of Corrupt Deal With Rabbi Facing Sex Abuse Allegations

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly pressured Rabbi Yosef David Abirjel, head of the Achi party, to withdraw from elections. Abirjel, who is suspected of serious sexual offenses against women, agreed to step down in exchange for the promotion of a law that would allow him to appoint a deputy minister. The Likud party initially boasted about the agreement, claiming it would prevent vote wastage for Netanyahu's bloc. However, leaked footage revealed the details of the understanding, which the Likud allegedly did not want publicized.

Rabbi Chaim Yosef Abirjel leads a large community in Netivot and is accused by several women of sexual offenses, some allegedly occurring when they were minors. He was arrested over a year ago, and his case is currently with the State Prosecutor's Office. Abirjel had formed a party to oppose Shas and, as part of the deal with Netanyahu, was to receive a deputy minister position, additional budgets, and influence in the next government.

Negotiations with Rabbi Abirjel had been ongoing for weeks, with Education Minister Yoav Kisch reportedly acting as an intermediary for Netanyahu. The agreement was finalized on Friday when Kisch visited the rabbi's home. During the meeting, Netanyahu spoke with Abirjel via speakerphone, confirming the terms of his withdrawal in exchange for political and budgetary promises. In the recording, Kisch can be heard telling Netanyahu, "I'm putting you on speaker, Prime Minister. I want you to confirm - don't film now; I'm repeating the agreement so they will also be calm and hear. We will appoint a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Office. We will try to change the law and bring in someone who is not a Knesset member - and this will be their appointment. If it takes time or we don't succeed, they can choose any Knesset member they want and he will be a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Office who will handle all that we agreed upon." Netanyahu responded, "Completely acceptable."

Last week, Rabbi Abirjel had declared his support for Likud. News outlets learned that Netanyahu had spoken directly with him to secure his withdrawal, though Likud did not initially comment. The party later released a statement congratulating Rabbi Abirjel and the Achi movement for their "important act" of withdrawing from the elections, emphasizing the need to prevent vote wastage and the formation of a left-wing government. They added that a deputy minister would be appointed in the Prime Minister's Office from either Likud or the Achi party, depending on legal provisions. Likud urged other parties to act similarly and called on right-wing voters to support Netanyahu to ensure a right-wing victory.