Dozens of suspects were arrested this Monday, November 3, in a case of alleged corruption within the Israeli trade union center Histadrut, the police announced.
Specialized detectives “arrested and detained dozens of suspects for corruption, fraud and breach of trust, as well as money laundering and tax crimes,” a police statement said.
“The secret investigation, carried out over the last two years, affects senior officials of the Histadrut, local authorities and public companies and companies, suspected of having received bribes and advantages from businessmen in exchange for the promotion of their interests and financial gains,” adds this press release.
Opponent of Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies
The Histadrut, with more than 800,000 members, is Israel’s largest union and plays a prominent role in Israeli society. The union center was created in 1920, in Palestine under the British mandate.
Its president, Arnon Bar David, was arrested on Monday in connection with the matter, according to media reports. Presented before a judge, his police detention was extended for eight days.
Opposing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, he called for a general strike following the March 2023 firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and later reiterated his threats of a strike during the war in Gaza to demand that the government reach a deal for the release of the hostages.
The Histadrut reacted to the arrests in a statement saying it was “convinced of the innocence of our collaborators.” “We are cooperating with the authorities (…) The activities of the Histadrut in the service of the public continue as normal,” adds the press release.
The mayor of the city of Kyriat Gat (south), Kfir Suissa, a member of Likud, Netanyahu’s party, was on Monday the first elected official to announce that he had been questioned by the police in relation to this corruption matter.
Source: BFM TV
