Moshe Mizrahi
Moshe MizrahiFlash 90

MK Moshe Mizrahi said Thursday morning that the massive corruption scandal exposed Wednesday indicates a serious affair that meets the criminal definition of organized crime. 

Thirty senior officials were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of illegally allocating budgets to NPOs and different sources, transferring funds to regional council organizations, and laundering money through "straw company" fronts.

Likewise the suspects are believed to have given bribes and benefits, as well as having appointed and advanced the interests of their associates. 

"The police would not arrest people if there was no solid evidence in their hands," Mizrahi said in an interview with Reshet Bet. 

Mizrahi, who began his career as a policeman, previously served as the head of the Investigative Branch of Israel's Police Force. 

The MK also stated that the arrests had nothing to do with elections. 

In his words, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu), whose party is being investigated, changes his policies depending on the situation. Mizrahi added that he does not believe on word out of Liberman's mouth. 

Yisrael Beytenu responded to Mizrachi with a harsh statement of their own: "Moshe Mizrahi was removed from the police after being accused of illegally using wiretapping against Liberman during an investigation."

"MK Mizrahi is the last person who should talk about good governance and the maintenance of law," the party said in a statement.

The corruption case, however, is moving along. On Wednesday, the Rishon Lezion Magistrate's Court extended the remand of several regional council heads and other officials suspected of involvement. 

Among those whose remand was extended are Tamar Regional Council Head Dov Litvinoff, Megilot Regional Council Head Mordechai Dahman, and Samaria Regional Council Head Gershon Mesika.