BICOM

The principal suspects in Case 4000, concerning telecoms firm Bezeq and Walla news, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netyanuahu, were interviewed on Friday by Police and Israel Securities Authority (ISA) detectives.

At 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning all six suspects were questioned simultaneously with detectives in a command post continually receiving updates in real time from the six separate interrogations.

Netanyahu was questioned at the Prime Minister’s Residence on Balfour Street in Jerusalem. The detectives did not ask Netanyahu to give a statement about case 3000 concerning the purchase of submarines from Germany.

His wife, Sara Netanyahu was questioned at the headquarters of the Lahav 433 police team by police detectives and officers from the ISA. She was questioned under caution on suspicion of giving and accepting bribes.

Bezeq majority shareholder Shaul Elovitch, and Nir Hefetz, who have both been remanded in custody for the last two weeks, were questioned in two separate interview rooms at Lahav 433 police headquarters. Yediot Ahronot reports that Hefetz, the Netanyahu family’s former media adviser, is holding talks with Israel Police and the ISA, with investigators hoping to turn him into a state’s witness.

Detectives also took Iris Elovitch, the wife of Shaul Elovitch, from her home for questioning. Eitan Tzafrir a former chief of staff at the Communications Ministry, whose name was only released this morning in connection with the case was also questioned.

According to reports, Netanyahu did not deny he had discussed Bezeq-owned Walla’s coverage on several occasions, but said: “It was about ideology. I told him that his website isn’t Ha’aretz, but I never discussed easing [regulations] for Bezeq, that in return for coverage of one kind or another. That never happened.” Police suspect that Bezeq received benefits worth NIS 1bn in return for favourable coverage of Netanyahu and his family on the Walla website.

After his interview with the police was over, Netanyahu posted a video on Facebook and said: “A moment before the Sabbath begins I want to say to you. I feel confident that there isn’t going to be anything. I want to tell you something else, to the millions of Israelis who have expressed such powerful support for me, my wife and my family: you warm our hearts.”