Right-Wing Activist Yoav Eliasi Denies Misconduct in Police Investigation

Yoav Eliasi, known as "HaTzal" (The Shadow), a right-wing activist, was questioned on Wednesday by the Police Investigations Department (Mahash) over allegations of breach of trust. Eliasi denied receiving or seeking any favors during his interrogation. The investigation follows a report by Haaretz alleging police officers, including an intelligence coordinator, provided preferential treatment to a nightclub owned by Eliasi's brother.

Eliasi was summoned for a police hearing after the Mahash interrogation, with a decision expected on Thursday regarding his role as commander of a rapid response unit in Tel Aviv. Alongside Eliasi, three police officers are also under investigation for allegedly assisting the nightclub.

Addressing his relationship with one of the officers mentioned in the Haaretz report, Eliasi said they are good friends who met when he began volunteering with the police. He claimed their interactions were personal and limited to seeking advice on whom to contact, denying any expectation that the officer could prevent the club's closure. Eliasi emphasized he acted as a regular citizen, not leveraging his police involvement.

When asked about frequenting nightclubs, Eliasi confirmed he does go out but denied socializing with police officers in the district. He stated that if officers go out, they come to him independently. Following the investigation, Eliasi has been suspended from his command position in the Tel Aviv district rapid response unit.