The Knesset State Audit Committee Tuesday approved an expansion of the prerogatives of the State Comptroller's adviser specializing in government efforts against corruption.
Although the expansion had previously been approved in a quickly convened meeting with only three members of the opposition present, it passed unanimously in a revoteTuesday, with coalition members supporting the measure.
Coalition members believed that MK Yoel Hasson passed the decision with a specific political motivation in mind - to launch an investigation against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, over the luxury accommodations he was treated to on information visits abroad, presumably lavished upon him by plutocrats in an attempt to secure favors. An expose by Raviv Drucker on Channel 10 triggered Hasson's action.
The coalition relented once it was clarified that the investigation would embrace all political figures - past and present, including prime ministers, presidents and Knesset Members.
Hasson had protested that he was acting in total sincerity and that all he had in mind was "to strengthen the State Comptroller's office." Coalition members did not accept his claims and repeated their accusations that the chairman was trying to pull a fast one. MK Yariv Levin (Likud) responded, "The committee is the holy of holies and should not become a political playground... Any attempt to distinguish between the Prime Minister and other public figures stemmed from fear and shows that someone had something to hide.".