Criticism of Likud's political contacts with a rabbi suspected of criminal offenses

In depth

Education Minister Yoav Kish visited the home of Rabbi Haim Yosef Abergil, who is suspected of sexually assaulting women and founded a party against Shas, according to Channel 13 News. According to the report, as part of the contacts it was agreed that the rabbi would withdraw from the race in exchange for a deputy minister position and budgets.

According to Ynet, in a recorded conversation between Kish and members of the Achi party, Netanyahu approved the agreement by phone and said "completely acceptable". According to Israel Hayom, among the promises is an attempt to change the law to allow the appointment of a deputy minister who is not a Knesset member.

In response to the exposé, the chairman of Yisrael Beytenu wrote that Bibi sent the education minister to negotiate during a terror attack in which two IDF soldiers were killed, and the chairman of the Reservists party, Hendel, said that he "is closing dubious deals with draft dodgers and suspects in criminal cases".