Minister Gideon Sa'ar submitted a sworn affidavit to the High Court of Justice Sunday stating he did not instruct coalition MKs to document their vote and that he reminded them not to film themselves, according to reports. The Attorney General has reportedly not ordered an investigation into MK Sharen Haskel's testimony.
Minister Gideon Sa'ar submitted a sworn affidavit to the High Court of Justice Sunday evening (21:10 Jerusalem) stating he did not instruct coalition lawmakers to film their vote and that he reminded them not to document themselves. The affidavit, filed at 20:57 Jerusalem, follows a prior statement in which Sa'ar told the High Court that MK Sharen Haskel's claims were a 'media provocation,' as reported by The Zioneer earlier this evening.
The thread began earlier Sunday when Haskel testified to police, but police sources said her testimony was brief and lacked substance (18:47 Jerusalem). Sa'ar initially responded to the court by dismissing the allegations as a media provocation (20:57 Jerusalem). Within minutes, he submitted a formal affidavit denying any instruction to document votes, according to reports. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has not ordered a police investigation under caution of Haskel, the latest reports indicate.
The episode comes amid a broader controversy over MKs filming themselves during the State Comptroller vote. On June 24, lawmakers who filmed themselves submitted sworn affidavits stating they acted on their own initiative. On July 29, the Attorney General asked police to examine whether Likud submitted a false affidavit to the High Court.
It remains unclear whether Haskel's testimony will lead to further investigation. The Attorney General has not yet ordered a formal probe, and Sa'ar's affidavit is now part of the court record.
3 developments
- StrongMKs who filmed themselves in comptroller vote file sworn affidavits to High Court: acted on own initiative
- StrongThe Zioneer analysis finds contradiction in Haskel's accounts of vote documentation demands
- DevelopingSharren Haskel claims Coalition Chairman Buskila instructed her to document comptroller vote
- DevelopingKnesset Speaker Ohana denies ordering filming of comptroller vote, says Haredi alliance intact
Source and signal
- Open-source intake