The former Commander of Israel Police�s 433 Unit, known as Israel�s FBI, Menashe Arbiv, is on the offensive against Rabbi Yoshiyahu Pinto. Arbiv had to resign his senior Israel Police post amid reports of accepting bribes in connection to Rabbi Pinto.

Arbiv continues to adamantly deny the allegations made against him by Rabbi Pinto, stating the rav is lying to save his own skin. Arbiv plans to file a complaint with police against the rabbi alleging some of the documents presented to police and the attorney general by Rabbi Pinto are simply forgeries, fabricated evidence in the hope of saving himself from a multi-count criminal indictment.

Allegations against Arbiv include the time period he was serving as the Israel Police attach� to Washington, DC. Rav Pinto has submitted hotel receipts showing Arbiv and his family were guests in the Metro Hotel in New York City, which is owned by a close associate of the rabbi. Arbiv maintains the bills submitted to authorities to document his free nights in a penthouse in the hotel were fabricated. He denies that he received a significant discount purchasing a luxury Tel Aviv apartment because the developer is close to Rabbi Pinto, adding he pays rent and never purchased a Tel Aviv apartment.

Arbiv has also submitted the results of a polygraph test taken by his son Tzachi attesting to the fact that he never received a credit card or monthly monetary assistance from Rabbi Pinto as the rabbi alleges. He rejects the rabbi assisted in arranging Tzachi�s visa status with American officials as well.

Arbiv�s attorneys sent a letter containing their client�s counter-charges seeking to have Rabbi Pinto returned to Israel. They explain the rabbi�s presence outside of the country permits him to interfere and sabotage the police investigation against him.

(YWN � Israel Desk, Jerusalem)