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PM calls for investigation

Police hacking probe

February 10, 2022, 9:17 am Edit
Naftali Bennett (left) with Omer Barlev on Monday. Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
Naftali Bennett (left) with Omer Barlev on Monday.Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

AN internal investigation into allegations that police illicitly surveilled the phones of Israeli citizens found that only three people named in a report on the alleged hacking were in fact targeted, according to the findings of a probe presented to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Tuesday.

The police-run probe, which was shared with Bennett by Public Security Minister Omer Barlev, found that three of the 26 names included in the Calcalist business daily’s report were targeted using NSO Group’s Pegasus program, and that police only successfully hacked one of the phones. It was not clear who the three were or the identity of the owner of the phone that was successfully hacked.

Calcalist, which did not cite any sources or evidence, reported on Monday that the spyware was deployed against senior government officials, mayors, activist leaders, journalists and former PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s family members and advisers.

The police probe also did not specify if it investigated the possibility that other, similar spyware programs were utilised to hack the phones of officials.

Barlev presented the results of the probe to Bennett during a meeting of top government officials to discuss the allegations and consider establishing a state commission of inquiry, which requires full cabinet approval. Also taking part in the meeting were Justice Minister Gideon Sa’ar, new Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Deputy Attorney General Amit Marari, who is heading an investigative committee to examine the phone-hacking claims.

“Before a decision is made on the mechanism for investigating the affair, the prime minister requested to conduct a probe of the 26 names mentioned in the Calcalist report,” a statement from Bennett’s office said.

The statement added that Marari’s team would carry out “a thorough probe” in coming days, with representatives from the Shin Bet and Mossad joining the investigation. Further action will be decided once the findings from that investigation are presented, according to the PM’s Office.

TIMES OF ISRAEL

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