Ohana in a letter to the Knesset Speaker: Stop engaging in Netanyahu's case

The Minister of Justice sent a letter to Linon instructing him to withdraw his hands "directly or indirectly" in the prime minister's files, because of his partner's involvement in drafting the indictments. "If you decide not to do so, I will ask the Speaker of the Knesset to order you to cease dealing with these matters."

Ohana in a letter to the Knesset Speaker: Stop engaging in Netanyahu's case

Justice Minister Amir Ohana demanded that Knesset Attorney General Ilan Yanun (Tuesday) cease to deal with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's case because of his conflict of interest. "Draw your hands directly or indirectly in the prime minister's files," said Ohana.

In a letter sent by Ohana, he said that "there is a serious conflict of interest" on the part of Yinon due to the involvement of his partner, Attorney Amit Merari, who is serving as Deputy Attorney General, in drafting the indictments against Netanyahu. "If you decide not to do so, I will ask a chairman. You have instructed you to stop dealing with these issues, "he added.

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"There is a serious conflict of interest." Ohana (Photo: Shlomi Gabay)

Justice Minister Amir Ohana and Silk Nitzan Separation Ceremony, Jewish Border Patrol Jerusalem, December 18, 2019 (Photo: Shlomi Gabay)

Ohana asked Linon some questions in his letter: "Did you report to the Knesset authorities about your conflict of interest before deciding to deal with the prime minister's affairs? Is it true that the publication considered considering disqualifying yourself from these matters, but following the pressure of the Attorney General? Your partner in handling the prime minister's cases has influenced your decisions? Have you talked about this? "

Yesterday, Yanun dismissed the allegations made against him for alleged conflict of interest following the opinion he filed regarding the establishment of the Knesset committee, which will discuss Netanyahu's request for immunity during the election period. Yinon made it clear that he would not discuss substantive matters relating to the request for immunity, but would also not withdraw the opinion on the establishment of the committee, since he said these were "procedural issues". Yanun added that raising a claim of conflict of interest "is a cynical and artificial issue designed to threaten the Knesset Attorney General."

He said that "the issues that lie on the Knesset's desk are in internal procedural matters of the Knesset, and there is currently no discussion of the immunity requests themselves or the discretion of the Attorney General in indictment, matters which the Knesset Attorney will not deal with."

He made it clear that his opinion was purely procedural. Yinon (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Eyal Yanon (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Yinon made this clear in response to MK Miki Zohar, chairman of the Likud faction, who asked him to disqualify himself from engaging in the matter. Zohar claimed that "there is a concern about a serious conflict of interest" because, he said, "it is not possible between spouses, one will decide on an indictment against the prime minister, and the other will frustrate his request for immunity."

Likud demanded seams to be sutured, saying that "Eyal Yinon is in serious conflict with suspected criminal matters. He pledged not to deal with Prime Minister Netanyahu's affairs directly or indirectly, and he dealt with and dealt with them in practice. He may not indict Prime Minister Netanyahu on one hand. "And with the other hand, he will prejudice his request for immunity. He must suspend himself immediately."

In 2017, Yinon's partner, Merari, signed a conflict of interest stating that Yinon in his post as Knesset Speaker "will not be involved in dealing with matters that are being dealt with." The Knesset made it clear yesterday that disqualifying Yinon from dealing with the issue is not likely to delay the process of political establishment or The failure of the Knesset committee to set up, and after disqualification, another lawyer from the legal department will deal with the matter, saying, "It may be a slight delay of a few days but not beyond."

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