MK Shlomo Benizri
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Benizri: I will not resign
MK Shlomo Benizri slams bribery conviction, claims will not resign until issue of moral turpitude determined. Calls charges against him 'biggest lie in history of Israel'
"I have been persecuted for the last eight years… anyone reading the court ruling has to ask, just where is this tremendous bribery offense?" said MK Shlomo Benizri (Shas)
at a press conference on Tuesday. He added, "Why should I resign? There has been no verdict yet, and it has not been determined whether this bears a clause of moral turpitude."
Benizri also said that "as an elected public official I feel I need to tell my version of the story. Hiding quietly at home would be an admission of guilt."
Biggest Bribe or Biggest Lie?
Aviram Zino
Jerusalem court finds Shas member guilty of passing on advance information to building contractor in exchange for perks worth millions of shekels; Benizri's spiritual, political patron, Rabbi Reuven Elbaz, of facilitating and accepting bribes
Regarding the indictment he stated: "After listening to the prosecutors say this is the most serious case of bribery in the history of Israel (I have to say), this is the biggest lie in the history of Israel. Eight years I have been persecuted and kept silent, waiting to have my say in court."
Benizri discussed his political future, saying: "After receiving the news (of the indictment) I decided to suspend myself. I asked the Knesset's legal department how this could be done but they said no such tactic existed – I could either resign or continue to serve as an MK. They said suspension could only occur if moral turpitude was determined."
"Once I resign I will have slammed the door on my political life," he added. "So I won't resign until I receive the sentence… Meanwhile it's business as usual. I have a wedding tonight, and tomorrow I will pray with Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
'His intentions were good'
Benizri was convicted by The Magistrates Court of receiving bribes from Moshe Sela, a contractor. He was also convicted of breach of trust, conspiracy to commit a crime and interference with legal procedures, but was found innocent of other accusations.
Benizri's faction colleague, MK Nissim Zeev told Ynet, "I was very sorry to hear of the conviction. I still believe in this man's innocence. He is above these matters. Even if there were some improprieties, his intentions were good. He was a target, he was marked, and all that was left was to shoot him, which is what happened. They shot a man who gave a lot to the people of Israel. He may have made some mistakes, but he certainly never accepted bribes."
The State Prosecutor's Office is set to demand a moral turpitude clause to be included in the sentencing. If the demand is accepted, Benizri will automatically be suspended from the Knesset.
