The attorney general on Tuesday ordered a criminal investigation opened against certain government officials who transferred funds and resources to settlers in illegal West Bank outposts.

Attorney General Menachem Mazuz decided to probe the affair, which was exposed in a state comptroller report, in response to a petition submitted by the Peace Now movement calling for focused surveillance of the settlements.

However, Mazuz denied Peace Now's demand to open a general criminal investigation of every aspect of the affair.

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"We see no room or possibility to open a general criminal investigation," said attorney Eyal Yanun, an aide to Mazuz. "We do not feel that the phenomenon in general, despite its gravity, is befitting of a criminal investigation, with the exception of a few specific aspects, which will be investigated."

Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry has begun in recent days to consolidate government documents regarding the implementation of other recommendations from the state comptroller report on the matter of illegal outposts.