Ben-Gvir Demands Prison for Lawmaker if Election Bribery Allegations Proven
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is demanding a prison sentence for a Joint List lawmaker suspected of receiving hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash for election bribery and money laundering. Ben-Gvir called the allegations "shocking" and a blow to Israeli democracy, demanding legal action and potentially repeat elections if proven. The investigation is ongoing, with no current evidence of the funds reaching voters or originating from Qatar, and internal disagreements exist regarding the incident's gravity.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demands prison for a lawmaker suspected of election bribery.
- A Joint List party member allegedly received hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash.
- Ben-Gvir called the allegations "shocking" and a severe blow to Israeli democracy.
- He called for legal action and potentially repeat elections if the suspicions are proven.
- There is currently no evidence the funds were used for election day or came from Qatar.
- Disagreements exist among senior officials regarding the incident's severity.
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir stated on Sunday that he would demand a prison sentence for a member of the Joint List party if allegations of election bribery and money laundering prove true. The investigation reportedly focuses on a lawmaker who allegedly received hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash, which appears to be a criminal offense.
"The suspicions against the Knesset member are extremely serious," Ben-Gvir said. "If it turns out that foreign money was used for election bribery and to skew their results, this is a shocking corruption case and a severe blow to the democracy and sovereignty of the State of Israel."
Ben-Gvir further clarified, "If the suspicions are proven, I demand to bring the Knesset member to trial and demand a prison sentence." He added, "And if it turns out that the elections were skewed using the funds, action must be taken to hold repeat elections as soon as possible!"
Concluding his remarks, Ben-Gvir asserted, "We will not allow anyone to steal our elections. Whoever sells the elections for money belongs in jail, not in the Knesset!" While the article notes the receipt of cash, it states there is no evidence yet that the money was used for election day activities or reached voters, nor is there proof of Qatari funding.
Reports also indicate a disagreement among senior officials, including the head of the Shin Bet, regarding the severity of the incident. The election results are expected this week, and the investigation is expected to be lengthy, proceeding without impacting the election outcomes.
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