Police Chief Denies Leaks in Netanyahu Probe

Israel Police chief Roni Alsheich denied that his department was the address for leaks concerning the investigation of corruption in the Netanyahu government and said they would press forward with the probe despite pressure against it.

“I have no doubt that the leaks, that those leaks, are not coming from the police,” he told senior police officials in a closed meeting in Tel Aviv on Monday, according to media reports.

“The investigators are keeping the purity of the investigations, and their hands are clean,” Alsheich said. “I have full faith in the way that sensitive investigations are being conducted by the police.”

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has blamed Alsheich for the leaks, the latest of which said he will be summoned for questioning again in coming days, according to a Channel 2 report.

Meanwhile, Channel 10 news reported that Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit and State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan called Alsheich to express their support for him, and that they fear they will be the next ones to be targeted by Netanyahu.

Earlier on Monday, a group of former senior police officers sent a letter to Alsheich, saying they stand by him and the department at a time when they are both under attack.

“In recent months, we are following worryingly various legislation initiatives… The connection between them is an attempt to harm the independence of the police,” the letter said.

“Recently, we have also witnessed an unprecedented aggression at the police and its head. As ones who commanded police units in different levels and different times, and as ones who took part in sensitive investigations, we are convinced that searching for the truth is the only thing that concerns those who are involved,” the letter added.