Israeli Government Lawyers Order Police Probe into Likud's Alleged False Testimony to Supreme Court

Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Attorney Amit Isman have instructed the police to investigate affidavits submitted by Likud party members to the Supreme Court. The inquiry centers on suspicions that false statements were made regarding the documentation of a secret ballot during the election for State Comptroller. Likud representatives told the court that no instructions were given to Knesset members to photograph their votes, asserting that any such recordings were voluntary and independent acts.

However, a supplementary affidavit from Knesset member Sharren Haskel contradicted this claim, stating that members of the New Hope faction were required to film their votes during the repeated ballot for State Comptroller, and that the footage was sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Due to this discrepancy, Baharav-Miara and Isman have ordered an open testimony from Haskel, who is not currently a suspect, to clarify her statements.

If Haskel confirms her affidavit under questioning, authorities may consider opening a criminal investigation into the possible submission of false affidavits to the court. Haskel's affidavit was part of a petition to allow her to split from the right-wing Hamamlakhti faction after resigning as Deputy Foreign Minister. This contradicts previous affidavits from Likud's CEO David Sharan and several party Knesset members denying any directive to record votes.

The Supreme Court had previously invalidated the appointment of attorney Michael Rebilow to the State Comptroller role, ruling that photographing votes compromised the secrecy of the process. The ongoing investigation will focus on whether the statements submitted by Likud to the court accurately reflect the events that occurred.