The charges are related to an investigation against HaNegbi for a host of political appointments he made during his service as Environment Minister from 2001-2003.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz originally called for an investigation into HaNegbi's actions following an incriminating report by then-State Comptroller Eliezer Goldberg. Goldberg wrote that HaNegbi "trampled the law" and "used public resources to advance his own personal political affairs." At the time, HaNegbi headed Israel's police in his capacity as Public Security Minister.
The day after Mazuz's recommendation was reported, HaNegbi - who had been serving as temporary Likud Party Chairman, following Ariel Sharon's departure -
left the Likud and joined the newly-formed Kadima Party.
Labor MK Matan Vilnai said at the time, "How symbolic it is that on the day the police recommend HaNegbi's indictment, he joins Kadima. It appears that Kadima is turning into a 'city of refuge,' exuding a message of total disregard for public clean-handedness and values."
Likud MK Michael Eitan, in his response to the indictment, expressed the fears of much of the public by saying, "The Attorney General should be praised for understanding the feeling among many that joining Kadima gives one legal immunity."
HaNegbi now heads Kadima's election campaign headquarters, is a minister without portfolio in Ehud Olmert's temporary government, and is said to have been promised a ministerial position if Olmert heads the next government.
HaNegbi is eligible for a hearing before actually being charged. Each of the charges against him carries the possibility of active jail time.
The original investigation by the State Comptroller was spurred by a flyer handed out to Likud Central Committee members during the previous Likud primaries. The flyer bragged that HaNegbi had provided jobs for 80 committee members and their relatives.
HaNegbi's trial is not likely to take place before elections, which are set to take place March 28th.
Despite calls for HaNegbi to resign from the Cabinet, he said that he has no plans to do so. Kadima faction leader Roni Bar-On rushed to HaNegbi's defense, saying, "I suggest that we wait patiently for the actual decision to indict him, which is dependent on a hearing." Bar-On also said that he sees no need for HaNegbi to suspend himself from the party.
Kadima features a host of members who are under criminal investigation, or worse. In addition to HaNegbi, founder Ariel Sharon himself was under investigation - until his recent hospitalization - in what is known as the Cyril Kern case, and his son, Omri Sharon, is about to be sentenced after being convicted of violating campaign laws and perjury.
Two other Kadima members, Deputy Ministers Eli Aflalo and Ruchama Avraham, were reprimanded by the Knesset Ethics Committee - and are being investigated by State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss - for what is known as the Agrexco scandal. The two traveled abroad last year at the expense of Agrexco, a vegetable and fruit exporting company. Agrexco's activities are within the scope of the Knesset Finance Committee on which they serve.
After the news broke, the two MKs returned the cost of the flight, 7,300 shekels, and Aflalo also returned another 5,500 shekels for the cost of his New York hotel stay.
Chaim Barbivai, the Mayor of Kiryat Shmonah who was one of the first to join Kadima, suspended himself from the party just days after joining, after it was learned that he stands to be indicted on charges of bribery.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz originally called for an investigation into HaNegbi's actions following an incriminating report by then-State Comptroller Eliezer Goldberg. Goldberg wrote that HaNegbi "trampled the law" and "used public resources to advance his own personal political affairs." At the time, HaNegbi headed Israel's police in his capacity as Public Security Minister.
The day after Mazuz's recommendation was reported, HaNegbi - who had been serving as temporary Likud Party Chairman, following Ariel Sharon's departure -
left the Likud and joined the newly-formed Kadima Party.
Labor MK Matan Vilnai said at the time, "How symbolic it is that on the day the police recommend HaNegbi's indictment, he joins Kadima. It appears that Kadima is turning into a 'city of refuge,' exuding a message of total disregard for public clean-handedness and values."
Likud MK Michael Eitan, in his response to the indictment, expressed the fears of much of the public by saying, "The Attorney General should be praised for understanding the feeling among many that joining Kadima gives one legal immunity."
HaNegbi now heads Kadima's election campaign headquarters, is a minister without portfolio in Ehud Olmert's temporary government, and is said to have been promised a ministerial position if Olmert heads the next government.
HaNegbi is eligible for a hearing before actually being charged. Each of the charges against him carries the possibility of active jail time.
The original investigation by the State Comptroller was spurred by a flyer handed out to Likud Central Committee members during the previous Likud primaries. The flyer bragged that HaNegbi had provided jobs for 80 committee members and their relatives.
HaNegbi's trial is not likely to take place before elections, which are set to take place March 28th.
Despite calls for HaNegbi to resign from the Cabinet, he said that he has no plans to do so. Kadima faction leader Roni Bar-On rushed to HaNegbi's defense, saying, "I suggest that we wait patiently for the actual decision to indict him, which is dependent on a hearing." Bar-On also said that he sees no need for HaNegbi to suspend himself from the party.
Kadima features a host of members who are under criminal investigation, or worse. In addition to HaNegbi, founder Ariel Sharon himself was under investigation - until his recent hospitalization - in what is known as the Cyril Kern case, and his son, Omri Sharon, is about to be sentenced after being convicted of violating campaign laws and perjury.
Two other Kadima members, Deputy Ministers Eli Aflalo and Ruchama Avraham, were reprimanded by the Knesset Ethics Committee - and are being investigated by State Comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss - for what is known as the Agrexco scandal. The two traveled abroad last year at the expense of Agrexco, a vegetable and fruit exporting company. Agrexco's activities are within the scope of the Knesset Finance Committee on which they serve.
After the news broke, the two MKs returned the cost of the flight, 7,300 shekels, and Aflalo also returned another 5,500 shekels for the cost of his New York hotel stay.
Chaim Barbivai, the Mayor of Kiryat Shmonah who was one of the first to join Kadima, suspended himself from the party just days after joining, after it was learned that he stands to be indicted on charges of bribery.