Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2014 16:50:49 GMT
Ben-Eliezer drops out of presidential race days before election
(...)
Labor MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer withdrew on Saturday from Israel's presidential race, days before the June 10 election.
The decision came a day after police questioned the former defense minister under caution over allegations that he received illicit funds during his tenure as a member of the Knesset. The Labor lawmaker denied the allegations against him and said he would fight to clear his name.
(...)
In light of the recent developments, Ben-Eliezer said an "aggressive and timed slander and smear campaign against him" had been aimed at preventing him from assuming the presidency since he decided to run for the post.
"On Friday, during the final stretch of the long competition - four days before the Knesset vote for the new president - which in all modesty I was the leading candidate, I was given a 20-minute warning for a police check of the sources of financing for my apartment," Ben-Eliezer recounted of the proceedings that occurred over the past day.
"I reiterate what I have recently told the police and the media - every shekel that was used to pay for the apartment is transparent and known," he stated.
In order not to disturb Tuesday's election, Ben-Eliezer said that he would refrain from media interviews regarding his decision.
On Friday, Israeli media outlets reported that Ben-Eliezer purportedly received millions of shekels illegally from numerous individuals, among them businessman Avraham Nanikashvili, the oil magnate and financier whose net worth is estimated at NIS 3.35 billion.
(...)
Labor MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer withdrew on Saturday from Israel's presidential race, days before the June 10 election.
The decision came a day after police questioned the former defense minister under caution over allegations that he received illicit funds during his tenure as a member of the Knesset. The Labor lawmaker denied the allegations against him and said he would fight to clear his name.
(...)
In light of the recent developments, Ben-Eliezer said an "aggressive and timed slander and smear campaign against him" had been aimed at preventing him from assuming the presidency since he decided to run for the post.
"On Friday, during the final stretch of the long competition - four days before the Knesset vote for the new president - which in all modesty I was the leading candidate, I was given a 20-minute warning for a police check of the sources of financing for my apartment," Ben-Eliezer recounted of the proceedings that occurred over the past day.
"I reiterate what I have recently told the police and the media - every shekel that was used to pay for the apartment is transparent and known," he stated.
In order not to disturb Tuesday's election, Ben-Eliezer said that he would refrain from media interviews regarding his decision.
On Friday, Israeli media outlets reported that Ben-Eliezer purportedly received millions of shekels illegally from numerous individuals, among them businessman Avraham Nanikashvili, the oil magnate and financier whose net worth is estimated at NIS 3.35 billion.
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Full article (The Jerusalem Post)
First those timely sexual harassment charges (which ended up being dropped) against that other man who dropped out, and now this. If someone is accusing these people on purpose, why are they going to such lengths when the position of president of Israel is more of a formality?