Ruling clique retaliate against independent mayor

Police have long investigated Ashkelon mayor for corruption and, failing to find any evidence, recommended charging him with “election bribes” – a normal practice of offering his supporters municipal sinecures. If that’s a crime, send every Israeli politician to jail, since that’s what almost everyone does.
Roni Mehatzri was elected from the New Ashkelon movement, breaking Likud control over the city.