Sources close to Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) revealed that after Edelstein suspended freshman Likud MK Oren Hazan from his duties as deputy speaker due to a report alleging he was involved in pimping and drugs, Hazan countered by threatening to find incriminating stories about Edelstein.

An aide to Edelstein told AFP that after the suspension announcement, a furious Hazan phoned Edelstein and threatened to dig up dirt on him and expose it publicly.

Sources close to Edelstein told Walla! that Hazan got an aide to Edelstein on the phone and said “what did you do to me? From now on I’ll start searching for stories about the Knesset Speaker and I won’t hesitate to use them.”

Walla! said that Hazan refused to respond to their requests for comment on the matter.

The suspension follows allegations from Channel 2 claiming that Hazan was involved in providing female escorts and drugs to fellow Israelis in Bulgaria at a casino he allegedly ran. 

Responding to the report, Edelstein wrote on Facebook, “I informed MK Oren Hazan this morning that for the time being I won’t be able to let him run the plenum sessions as deputy speaker of the Knesset, in light of the report on him on Channel 2.”

“I am full of hope that he will clear himself of all suspicions, and I will be happy to apologize to him. But in the current public atmosphere, ethically – even if not criminally – there is no way he can run the plenum.”

Hazan said earlier on Tuesday that he would be unable to chair the day’s plenum session since he was consulting with his lawyers ahead of filing a lawsuit against Channel 2, a move he announced late Monday night.

The MK has thoroughly denied the allegations in the report, and his lawyer also told Army Radio that Hazan has a medical condition that prevents him from being able to use hard drugs as was alleged.