Exclusive
CEOs of government ministries, journalists, tycoons, corporate executives, mayors, social activists, and even the Prime Minister’s relatives, all were police targets, having their phones hacked by NSO’s spyware, prior to any investigation even opening and without any judicial authorization
Tomer Ganon 07:1207.02.22
Calcalist can reveal for the first time a list of dozens of citizens who were targeted by Israel Police, having their phones hacked by NSO spyware and their personal information swiped and filed away. The surveillance was conducted to phish for intelligence even before any investigation had been opened against the targets, and without judicial warrants. Israel Police said in response that its people are “cooperating with the Attorney General of Israel’s examination team.”
The list which reached Calcalist includes the CEOs of the ministries of transport, finance and justice at the time, Keren Turner, Shai Babad and Emi Palmor, respectively. It also includes leaders of the protests organized by disability rights groups and Israelis of Ethiopian descent, as well as mayors Miriam Feirberg of Netanya, Yoram Shimon of Mevaseret Zion, Yaakov Peretz of Kiryat Ata and Moti Sasson of Holon. In addition, spyware was installed on the phone of witnesses and some of those interrogated as part of Case 4000 and those involving communication conglomerate Bezeq for which former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also standing trial. People who had their phones hacked include, Iris Elovich, indicted on bribery charges in Case 4000, former Ministry of Communications CEOs Shlomo Filber and Avi Berger, Bezeq CEOs Stella Hendler and Dudu Mizrahi, Walla CEO Ilan Yeshua, former Walla editor-in-chief Aviram Elad and other journalists at Walla. The family of former Prime Minister Netanyahu and his inner circle were also targeted, including his son Avner Netanyahu, and advisors Topaz Luk and Yonatan Urich. Businessman Rami Levy was also hacked, as was the chairman of the workers union at Israel Aerospace Industries, Yair Katz, son of Member of Knesset, Haim Katz.
Avner Netanyahu (left), son of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanya mayor Miriam Feirberg and businessman Rami Levy were all among those hacked by police. Photo: Avi Mualem, Asaf Friedman, Tal Shahar
The bland term used by police for these activities was “techno
