Netanyahu expected to be questioned in Case 4000 probe on Friday
The prime minister is also expected to give testimony in Case 3000, in which he is not a suspect; media adviser Eli Kamir, suspected in Case 1270, becomes suspect in Bezeq corruption affair as well.
Police are investigating suspicions Bezeq majority shareholder Shaul Elovitch and Netanyahu had a quid pro quo relationship in which Bezeq enjoyed regulatory benefits in return for favorable coverage of the Netanyahu family on Walla! News, which is owned by the telecommunications giant.
Meanwhile, police have decided not to ask for a remand extension for media adviser Eli Kamir in another investigation, but his remand was extended until Thursday after he became a suspect in Case 4000.
Kamir was initially arrested as part of the investigation into Case 1270, in which he and Hefetz are suspected of offering former District Court Chief Judge Hila Gerstel the attorney general's position in return for throwing out a case against Sara Netanyahu.
Police and the Israel Securities Authority (ISA) have been questioning Kamir under caution since the morning hours Sunday in Case 4000 on mediation for bribery suspicions.
The Bezeq board of directors convened for an urgent meeting Sunday after the return of acting chairman David Granot from vacation. During the meeting, Shaul Elovitch, his son Or and Or's wife Orna announced their resignation from the board.
Walla! News CEO Ilan Yeshua, who gave police as many as eight detailed testimonies in Case 4000, was the one who provided investigators with the "golden evidence" in the investigation—a recording of Elovitch issuing explicit orders on the favorable coverage that should be given to Netanyahu and his family on the Walla! website.
It has now been revealed that in addition to the recordings provided by Yeshua, the police also have transcripts of phone conversations after eavesdropping on the suspects—Elovitch, Hefetz and Filber.
In July 2017, in the middle of the investigation into the Bezeq affair, the ISA received information that the offenses committed by Bezeq are not only related to its financial activity, but also include criminal offenses linked to Prime Minister Netanyahu. Yeshua's name was mentioned as someone who might be able to shed light on the affair.
After being updated on the developments in the investigation, the Israel Police's Lahav 433 Unit asked to receive the material, but the ISA insisted on completing the investigation into the financial offenses and submitting recommendations for indictments before moving on to the bribery offenses.
