BICOM

Tomorrow’s Knesset poll to elect a successor to President Shimon Peres took a dramatic turn over the weekend as senior Labour MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer dropped out of the race, having been abruptly questioned by police over alleged financial impropriety.

Ben-Eliezer, a former Defence Minister, was considered a leading contender among the record six candidates contesting the secret ballot among the Knesset’s 120 members. Former Knesset Speaker and Likud MK Reuven Rivlin is considered the front-runner and is thought to have the support of the vast majority of both the Likud and Yisrael Beitenu factions. However, Ben-Eliezer was considered to have had a good chance of challenging Rivlin in a second round vote, with no candidate likely to secure the 61 votes needed for outright victory.

On Friday, police interrogated Ben-Eliezer under caution on suspicion of having illegally received large sums of money with which to purchase a luxury flat in Jaffa. The tax authority, with the consent of Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, had conducted a review of Ben-Eliezer’s bank account, without his knowledge. Ben-Eliezer publicly protested his innocence but said it was fitting to withdraw his candidacy and hoped it “will be the last affair in the current race for the presidency.” The campaign has been mired by claims of improper behaviour against Ben-Eliezer, Rivlin, Hatnuah’s Meir Sheetrit and Likud Minister Silvan Shalom who decided not to run following allegations of sexual misdemeanour.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein briefly mulled postponing tomorrow’s ballot, but later confirmed it will take place as planned. Most of the remaining candidates decided to publicly publish their finances to stave off any further controversy. In the wake of Ben-Eliezer’s withdrawal, the Labour faction decided to hand its MKs a free vote. Several are expected to join Meretz in voting for former Supreme Court Judge Dalia Dorner. However, Labour MKs Miki Rosenthal and Shelly Yachimovich have declared their support for Rivlin. Former-Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik is also thought to have a good chance of contesting a second round ballot.