Israel: Top cop general Mizrahi ends career in Israel amidst charges of law breaking & politicizing police
Al Bawaba
General Moshe Mizrahi, ex-Chief Investigator of Israel’s national police and head of its unit mandated to fight international crime, has resigned amidst continuing charges of controversial practices and wrongdoing.
Mizrahi was especially aggressive in pursuing the so-called “Russian Mafia” in Israel, likened by observers and media to a witch hunt that smeared the reputation of many Russian-born businessmen who moved to Israel, depriving Israel’s economy of billions of dollars in investments as a result.
In 2002, a Mizrahi police subordinate exposed illegal wiretapping actions by his boss who reportedly spied on prominent Israeli politicians, including Ariel Sharon, Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Liberman. The Ministry of Justice recommended a criminal investigation of Mizrahi that same year, and in 2004, the official was removed from his position and demoted to head a much smaller police department.
Russian-Israeli billionaire Arkady Gaydamak announced he is filing a complaint against Mizrahi for what the Russian characterizes as a politically-inspired investigation launched against him to protect the interests of some of Mizrahi’s personal friends.
Another prominent Israeli philanthropist and businessman Michael Cherney (Mikhail Chernoy) says he now understands why he, too, was haunted by Mizrahi who furnished incorrect information about him to Interpol and the FBI. Mizrahi’s friends held long-standing grudges and financial claims against Cherney. The ex-cop denies these allegations.
Mizrahi’s retirement was welcomed as a timely reform, occurring just before national elections schedule to take place March 28, at a time when many candidates are calling for more ethical, fairer systems in Israel.
General Moshe Mizrahi, ex-Chief Investigator of Israel’s national police and head of its unit mandated to fight international crime, has resigned amidst continuing charges of controversial practices and wrongdoing.
Mizrahi was especially aggressive in pursuing the so-called “Russian Mafia” in Israel, likened by observers and media to a witch hunt that smeared the reputation of many Russian-born businessmen who moved to Israel, depriving Israel’s economy of billions of dollars in investments as a result.
In 2002, a Mizrahi police subordinate exposed illegal wiretapping actions by his boss who reportedly spied on prominent Israeli politicians, including Ariel Sharon, Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Liberman. The Ministry of Justice recommended a criminal investigation of Mizrahi that same year, and in 2004, the official was removed from his position and demoted to head a much smaller police department.
Russian-Israeli billionaire Arkady Gaydamak announced he is filing a complaint against Mizrahi for what the Russian characterizes as a politically-inspired investigation launched against him to protect the interests of some of Mizrahi’s personal friends.
Another prominent Israeli philanthropist and businessman Michael Cherney (Mikhail Chernoy) says he now understands why he, too, was haunted by Mizrahi who furnished incorrect information about him to Interpol and the FBI. Mizrahi’s friends held long-standing grudges and financial claims against Cherney. The ex-cop denies these allegations.
Mizrahi’s retirement was welcomed as a timely reform, occurring just before national elections schedule to take place March 28, at a time when many candidates are calling for more ethical, fairer systems in Israel.
posted by Marko at 3/20/2006 03:39:00 PM
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