The Israeli daily calcalist revealed earlier this month large-scale, extralegal cyber-surveillance directed against Israeli citizens. This deeply shocked public opinion, and caused a state scandal.
With our correspondent in Jerusalem, Sami Boukhelifa
Following these cyber espionage revelations, in early February, the Israeli Prime Minister promised “ answer “. Because the Pegasus software must not be used against Israeli citizens “, estimated then Naftali Bennett. An investigation was immediately opened, led by the Deputy Attorney General of the Hebrew State, Amit Merari.
With her team of investigators, she concludes: Yes, the Pegasus software was used to hack an Israeli citizen’s phone. No, this was not done outside any legal framework. The police did obtain a warrant before proceeding with the tapping. »
The police strike back
These conclusions therefore partially contradict the revelations of calcalist. According to this Israeli daily, the police were carrying out massive cyber surveillance, without any warrant.
Reinforced by the results of this investigation, the Israeli police counter-attack: “ calcalist wounded the Israel Police and its 32,000 police […] someone is going to have to pay for it. » calcalist announces wanting reconsider the conclusions (…) published ” in everyday life.