With Knesset elections set for 2 1/2 weeks from now, police have detained the daughter of Israel Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman and six other associates. Is this due to the normal investigation timeline or was it politically motivated?
Related questions: This investigation has dragged on since the State Comptroller's report in 1999 -- almost 10 years. Why? Why have other alleged violations from the same report long since been forgotten?
The investigation against Liberman is almost always dormant, but as it is never closed it can always be, and periodically is, used as a lever against him. It is hard to escape the conclusion that the whole process is indeed politically motivated.
Judge for yourself based on this report from Ynet, who are no friends of Lieberman:
7 Lieberman associates questioned
The police's National Fraud Investigations Unit on Sunday morning detained for questioning seven people associated with Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman, including his daughter and a lawyer.
The seven were detained two and a half weeks before the Knesset elections, as part of an investigation launched against Lieberman on suspicion of taking a bribe, fraud and money laundering. Their homes were searched.
Recent public opinion polls have shown that Lieberman's party is expected to grow stronger in the February 10 elections.
Lieberman's daughter, Michal, was questioned by the National Fraud Investigations Unit in January 2008, several days after her father resigned from the Olmert government.
A state comptroller's report from 1999 pointed to alleged violations of the election campaign law by the Yisrael Beiteinu party. A police investigation was launched into the matter in February 2001, and Lieberman was among the people questioned.
In May 2005, the police turned the case over to the State Prosecutor's Office for a review and decision. Following the receipt of additional material from investigations abroad, the attorney general instructed the police to reopen the case. The investigation was resumed in April 2006.
In April 2007, Lieberman was questioned under advisement at the National Fraud Investigations Unit's offices on suspicion of receiving illegal funds from business tycoon Martin Schlaf...
During the first coalition negotiations between Kadima and Yisrael Beiteinu following the 2006 election, Lieberman asked for the Internal Security portfolio, but Attorney General Menachem Mazuz ruled that he could not be in charge of the police as long as the criminal investigation against him is still going on.
In the meantime, Israel National News reports that Lieberman's Israel Beiteinu party is tied with Labor, according to the latest polls, for the 3rd largest party in the next Knesset.
