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JERUSALEM —Israeli police allegedly used spyware on former PM’s phones Benjamin Netanyahuson and members her a local newspaper reported on Monday.

Calcalist has released a series of recent reports alleging police use of sophisticated spyware against protesters and other Israeli citizens, sparking condemnation from across the political spectrum. Claims can also hurt Netanyahu‘s ongoing corruption case, following reports that police used spyware to spy on a key witness.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the allegations were “very serious” if true.

Public Safety Minister Omer Barlev announced the establishment of a government investigative commission, led by a retired judge, who will “inspect in depth the violations of civil rights and privacy during the years in question.” He said the alleged violations were perpetrated by former officials in previous governments.

IsraelFormer police chief Roni Alsheikh, who commanded many of the alleged surveillances, declined to comment on the matter.

Calcalist said the police used spyware against a registered phone. Netanyahu‘s son, Avner, as well as two communications consultants and the wife of another defendant, are one of three corruption cases against the former leader.

They are among several prominent figures targeted with spyware, including business leaders, former Cabinet ministries and mayors, Calcalist reports. Organizers of demonstrations on behalf of the disabled and IsraelThe Ethiopian minority was also targeted.

Calcalist said police used powerful Pegasus software developed by Israeli firm NSO Group, which got bogged down in controversy after the spyware was associated with eavesdropping on journalists, activists and politicians in several countries.

The newspaper said police used spyware to gather intelligence before any investigation was opened and without judicial orders. is not it certain Netanyahutargeted in connection with her ongoing corruption litigation or for other reasons. A spokesperson for the Netanyahu family did not respond to a request for comment.

replaced by Bennett Netanyahu As prime minister last June, he said that Pegasus and other products are “important tools in the fight against terrorism and serious crime, but that they are not intended to be used in phishing campaigns targeting the Israeli public or authorities – so we need to understand exactly what happened,” he said in a statement.

The cabinet met on Monday to confirm Gali Baharav-Miara as the country’s new attorney general. HE He replaced Avichai Mandelblit, who was carefully selected by Netanyahu but the presidency her The indictment and his six-year term ended last week.

“Given the erosion of public trust in law enforcement, there is a significant opportunity here to protect what needs to be protected and fix what needs to be fixed,” Bennett said.

Netanyahu in the midst of a lengthy corruption trial on charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery in three separate cases. Her The historic 12-year rule ended last year when a narrow coalition government was sworn in after four elections in less than two years.

Netanyahu has long accused law enforcement of unfairly targeting heand her Lawyers wanted answers. Mistake Netanyahu‘s political opponents expressed their anger.

Witness Shlomo Filber, whose phone was reported to have been hacked, is expected to testify in the coming days. Netanyahulawyers expected to seek adjournment her testimony. Calcalist reported that police also used spyware on the company’s CEO, Dudu Mizrahi. Israel‘s telecom firm Bezeq to assess the credibility of his testimony in one of the lawsuits.

It remains unclear whether any of the evidence allegedly collected was used against him. Netanyahu.

Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai said he supports an independent investigation to “restore public confidence in Israeli police on the one hand and regulate technology use by Israeli police on the other.” Police say they are already cooperating in the investigation led by the attorney general’s office.

State prosecutors meanwhile told Netanyahu’s lawyers that they had “extensively reviewed” the reports, according to internal memos seen by the Associated Press.

Authorities did not say what spyware might have been used inappropriately.

NSO Group’s Pegasus allows operators to seamlessly infiltrate a target’s cell phone and access the device’s content, including real-time communication. Other Israeli companies have also produced powerful espionage tools.

NSO does not disclose its customers and says it does not have access to the intelligence they collect or control how its products are used. He says all his sales are approved. IsraelHe said the Department of Defense and its technology are used by governments to fight crime and terrorism.