David Amsalem
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky
Coalition chairman: State witness is an inferior thing
After former Communications Ministry director-general Filber signs state witness agreement, MK David Amsalem asserts state witness 'is a criminal, normally the main criminal,' adding state witnesses are asked to testify against senior of officials who 'allegedly committed a lighter offense.'
Coalition Chairman MK David Amsalem (Likud), who called MK Yair Lapid a "snitch" for his testimony in Case 1000, said Wednesday that being a state witness was an "inferior thing."
Suspended Communications Ministry Director-General Shlomo Filber, who for a time was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-hand man, signed a state witness agreement Tuesday night in an investigation delving into the alleged quid pro quo relationship between the premier and his associates and senior Bezeq and Walla! News executives.
"In general, I, as Dudi Amsalem, think a state witness is an inferior thing. Who becomes a state witness? It's a man who's a criminal, normally he's the main criminal," Amsalem asserted in an interview with Israel Radio.
Coalition chairman David Amsalem (Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch))
"Sometimes, he (the prospective state witness) is told 'Listen, let's make a deal, so you can testify against a senior official. Most of the time, that official has allegedly committed a lighter offense, but we'll give you a treat. Just come and testify against him,'" the coalition chair further claimed.
Amsalem went on to describe his aversion to state witnesses. "Let's just say, my fantasy is for my daughter not to marry a state witness," he said. "That's why I see this as immoral on the social level. State witnesses should be used (only) in very serious offenses."
In light of recent developments, including police recommendations to indict Netanyahu in cases 1000 and 2000, the open investigation into Case 4000 alleging benefits to Bezeq in return for favorable coverage of the prime minister, and a new investigation into claims a district court judge was offered the position of attorney general to drop a case against the prime minister's wife, Sara, the Likud commissioned a poll.
The poll, done by the Geocartography Institute on Monday, found that if elections were held now, the Likud would win 34 seats—four more than it currently has. Yesh Atid would rise to 20 seats, while Bayit Yehudi would jump to 14. The Zionist Union would drop to 12 and Shas would not pass the election threshold.
In response to the poll, Netanyahu quoted from Exodus 1:12: "The more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad."
