Ya'alon
Photo: Emil Salman
Likud comptroller: Ya'alon used Defense Ministry worker for primaries
Comptroller Shay Galilee summons defense minister to a hearing citing forbidden use of gov't funds; Ya'alon: Comptroller has no authority to summon a candidate, employee was hired before elections announced.
After disqualifying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from running in the Likud's internal primaries, the party's comptroller summoned Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon for a hearing on suspicion he employed a Defense Ministry worker in his primaries campaign.
According to an internal report by comptroller Shay Galilee, the employee was asked to call party members, update their information and invite them to Ya'alon's conferences.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon (Photo: Ariel Hermoni, Defense Ministry)
The comptroller noted that "using a government ministry's employees to promote the minister's candidacy in the primaries is considered a forbidden use of a supervised body's funds."
Ya'alon said in response that "the Defense Minister's Office is operating as required and in accordance with regulations, therefore there is nothing to the comptroller's claims.
"According to Likud regulations, the comptroller has no authority to summon a candidate for a hearing and disqualify his candidacy.
"The employee in question started working before a date was set for the elections or for the primaries as a substitute for the parliamentarian adviser, in a temporary capacity."
On Wednesday, the Likud comptroller disqualified Netanyahu, citing illegal use of party resources.
If the move stands, Netanyahu will not be able to contend for the premiership. In response, the party's election committee said the comptroller overstepped his mandate and is not authorized to make such a decision. It is unclear if the comptroller can indeed bar Netanyahu from running pending a legal investigation.
