Yitzhak Herzog
Yitzhak HerzogTomer Neuberg/Flash 90

Opposition leader MK Yitzhak Herzog (Zionist Union) insisted on Sunday evening that he remains calm, despite having earlier been questioned under warning over suspicions that he accepted forbidden donations, did not report the donations and handed in a false declaration, all in connection with the 2013 Labor party primaries.

“It’s no secret that over the past two weeks I declared again and again that I will show up anywhere, anytime, and provide my version of the story, and that’s what I did this morning, and if necessary I will do it again so that this affair will be behind us soon,” Herzog said at a toast of Zionist Union activists in honor of the Passover holiday.

Herzog stressed that he trusts the law enforcement agencies. “Whenever an issue arises related to general or internal party elections, various complaints always come up, and it’s good that these things are checked, as they were in the past,” he said.

“Believe me, I am calm, and you should be calm, and if there is someone in the party who isn’t calm - then he should calm down!” he continued.

“The role of a leader is to deal with such phenomena, overcome them, continue to lead and win,” said Herzog, who thanked the members of the Zionist Union for their support him and urged them to stand behind him.

“A year ago, you and I led the party to the threshold of the government. You and I brought 24 seats which proved to all the doubters and all the mockers that we are on the right path,” he continued.

“We were on the brink of victory, and in the coming elections I will win, and you will win, and the party will win and the Zionist Union will win,” declared Herzog.

Earlier on Sunday, MK Shelly Yechimovich (Zionist Union) spoke about the criminal investigation against Herzog, and said, "I am convinced that the welfare of the party and the opposition remains before the eyes of Herzog.”

“I will act in cooperation with him and my fellow party members in order to decide what steps to take," she continued.

Giving a subtle hint that the investigation developments may lead Herzog to be booted, she added, "There is no doubt that the questioning under warning of the party chairperson and the Opposition chairperson makes the situation more serious. I completely rely on the police and the law authorities."

Herzog has denied the suspicions against him, and accused members of his own party of instigating the investigation as part of an "election campaign," while threatening that he would "kick" back.