The corruption cases involving Shas leader Aryeh Deri and Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog are of different natures. Regarding Deri, the fundamental question is how a public servant could amass so much property. And when it comes to Herzog, the issue relates to alleged violations of campaign financing laws. We are still in the early stages of both cases, but the legal wheels are in motion. But there are some parallels between the two cases. Both Deri and Herzog have been investigated in the past and maintained their right to remain silent. Now both are promising to cooperate with investigators. And both have said they are not concerned by the allegations against them. Perhaps they truly have no reason to worry, but their outward appearance of nonchalance could also just be a tactic and they might still end up being indicted. Another similarity between the two cases is that the allegations are not new. Herzog on Wednesday said Likud activists were responsible for the investigation against him and noted that some of the claims against him were published in an Israel Hayom article ahead of the 2015 Knesset elections. And associates of Deri are convinced that leaks about his property acquisitions -- which they say were conducted when he was out of politics -- came from the Shas leader's inner circles. It is always interesting to see how such cases affect public opinion. It does not matter how the information was brought to light or whether it is true or not. Even if investigators find that there is basis for the allegations, it is not certain the information will be solid enough to present in court. In the near future, Herzog's status as the head of the opposition and Deri's status as Shas leader will not be affected (even if the High Court of Justice rules that Deri can no longer serve as interior minister due to his past corruption conviction). But the investigations will affect influence the internal machinations within the Labor Party and Shas. This is particularly true for Labor as Herzog's alleged violations of campaign financing laws took place during the party's 2013 primaries, when Herzog ousted Shelly Yachimovich as party chief. While in recent times it seems Herzog and Yachimovich have abided to a truce, the investigation against Herzog could renew the flow of bad blood between them. The weakening of Herzog and Deri will benefit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is leading a narrow 61-MK coalition that contains several chronic rebels within Likud. There is nothing like a criminal investigation against a political rival to bolster one's own power. Deri and Herzog want to see their legal situations clarified in an expedited manner, but there is a long road ahead.
