Minister of the Interior and member of the Political-Security Cabinet Aryeh Deri (Shas) on Saturday night told Israel Radio that “the media offensive does not reflect reality, Netanyahu is here to stay.” It was Deri’s first public statement about the police investigations against the prime minister.
Deri supported Netanyahu and protested against the calls for his resignation. “He functions as usual,” the interior minister said. “If he is not stressed by Filber (Netanyahu’s close associate and director of the communications ministry who became state witness), it means that he knows there was nothing there for him to stress over.”
Deri himself has been under police investigation since June. The Shas chairman is suspected of a series of corruption offenses, including fraud and money laundering. Police suspect that various businessmen transferred money into Deri’s account and an account belonging an association headed by his wife, Yaffa Deri, some of it in the form of loans that were never returned. Last week marked the minister’s eighth interrogation by the major crime unit Lahav 433.
Deri has been convicted of taking $155,000 in bribes while serving as Interior Minister, and was given a three-year jail sentence in 2000. He was released from prison in 2002 after serving 22 months.
“I don’t blame either [AG] Mandelblit nor [Police Commissioner] Alshich, I say let them do their work and let’s wait patiently,” Deri told Israel Radio Saturday night, adding, “You can’t shake up an entire country over a police investigation.”
“I serve in the [security] cabinet, and if you knew what we’re dealing with, you would understand that to fold a government would mean to abandon an entire country. You overthrow a government through elections, not with demonstrations.”
Regarding the possibility that the elections will be held early, Deri said “it’s not good for the State of Israel to hold elections now, I say this with full responsibility, we need Netanyahu at this time, he is even considered the most senior statesman in the world. The good of the state and the welfare of Israel demand that he not be dropped only on the basis of investigations.”
Deri then stated, “The government is our home, and everyone who lives in it, all members of the government, is obligated to protect it.” Which may be a bit disturbing if one is concerned about the notion of a permanent government.
Deri’s party has been losing power significantly in recent polls, even failing to cross the threshold and disappearing from the political map in some – which may be another reason why the interior minister would rather not go for new elections any time soon.