Judiciary ombudsman: Public servants cannot accept gifts
Addressing allegations PM received illicit gifts from wealthy donors, Judge David Rosen says 'the law is clear, the basis of the law is clear. Public servants and public representatives cannot take gifts, and this is a norm that should be binding.'
The Ombudsman of the Israeli Judiciary, Judge David Rosen, stressed Tuesday that public servants are not allowed to receive gifts.
Judge Rosen was discussing the investigations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In one investigation, dubbed Case 1000, Netanyahu and his family members are suspected of receiving illicit gifts from wealthy donors.
"In general, the lines are pretty clear. The ruling is clear to all," Rosen said at the Israel Bar Association conference in Tel Aviv. "The law is clear, the basis of the law is clear. Public servants and public representatives cannot take gifts, and this is a norm that should be binding... that the public servant takes upon himself. This is a norm that should be above all."
Coalition chairman MK David Bitan (Likud), a close ally of Netanyahu, was outraged by Rosen's remarks.
"If things are so simple, then where is the indictment? The prime minister admits to receiving cigars, so where's the indictment and why do you need a state witness? The gifts law refers to gifts one receives in public office. You can't come (after the fact) and tell him: You should've understood the law this way. Shimon Peres also received gifts on his birthday and no one investigated him over this and no indictment was filed," Bitan said.
Yesh Atid leader MK Yair Lapid, who also spoke at the conference, lamented the fact Israel "has become a corrupted state. The prime minister is under criminal investigations, he's not even denying having received gifts worth hundreds of thousands of shekels. Those closest to him misappropriated the defense budget, which is the national holiest of holies. Almost all of his close associates are under house arrest or being investigated. To draw the fire away from himself, the prime minister knowingly and publicly divides and tears the Israeli society apart and leads wild incitement against the Left and the media."
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, also speaking at the conference, said the separation of powers in Israel was a myth, as the legislature is weakening and losing its authority.
"We all need to stop yawning when the conversation moves to the structure of government in Israel. These problems are more important than the shouting at the Knesset, more interesting than a minor fight between the parties, and more fundamental than thousands of bill proposals," he asserted.
