30 ARRESTED IN ISRAEL ON GRAFT ALLEGATIONS

**Thirty suspects, including high-profile Israeli government officials, have been arrested as a year-long secret probe enters a public investigation phase.**(Photo: Anadolu Agency)

Jerusalem, 3 Rabi’ul Awwal 1436/25 December 2014 (MINA)– Israeli police have arrested 30 public officials for suspected graft following a “year-long secret probe.”

“Thirty suspects, including high-profile government officials, have been arrested as a year-long secret probe enters a public investigation phase,” said Luba Samri, a spokesperson for the Israeli police, said Wednesday (24/12), Anadolu Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

She added that Israeli police forces had also “searched” suspects’ residences and offices.

Samri said that, for over a year, the Israeli prosecution has been presiding over a wide-scale government probe of a range of corruption-related charges, including bribery, forgery, profiteering and money laundering.

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The corruption scandal comes ahead of a March 2015 general election in which Prime Minister Netanyahu, whose government coalition collapsed last month, will seek a fourth term in office.

The suspects include a number of heads of local authorities and public service officials, as well as a parliament member who also serves as a deputy minister and a former minister and some trade union members, according to Samri.

Earlier this year, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was sentenced to six years in prison for bribery.

Moreover, former Israeli President Moshe Katsav is currently serving a seven-year prison term since 2011 after being convicted of rape and sexual harassment.

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Earlier this month, Netanyahu called for holding early elections, citing difficulties in leading the state with members of his cabinet acting against him “from within.”

Netanyahu recently dismissed two leading members of his cabinet, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Finance Minister Yair Lapid, prompting the collapse of his coalition government. (T/P010/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)