JERUSALEM: A senior Israeli politician yesterday dropped out of the country’s presidential election days before the vote over a graft probe.
Labour party candidate Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, a former general and seasoned politician, had been questioned by police over illegally accepting funds. Ben-Elieer said he was a victim of a smear campaign, noting that the allegations against him surfaced ahead of the election.
Ben-Eliezer, 78, insisted he was innocent of the accusations in a statement he posted on Facebook. “With a very heavy heart, I have made the decision to withdraw from the race,” he wrote.
Israel’s presidential election will be held on Tuesday.
AP
