Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a leader who is considered to be unimpeachable by the US political and media establishment, and whose creative illustrative tales of Iranian nuclear weapons have been adopted as a priori fact by Washington – has now been indicted by Israel’s Attorney General for bribery, fraud and other crimes in three separate cases.
This latest development takes place only 6 weeks before Israel’s coming elections, where Netanyahu has seen the collpase of his previous Likud-led coalition. Desperate for political allies, he’s since been forced into an unholy political alliance with the openly racist equivalent of the Jewish National Front.
How many of the fawning members of US Congress who gave Netanyahu no less than 26 standing ovations, will be stepping forward to defend the embattled Israeli PM?
The Times of Israel reports…
In a decision that drastically shakes up Israeli politics less than six weeks before general elections, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be charged with criminal wrongdoing in three separate cases against him, including bribery in the far-reaching Bezeq corruption probe, pending a hearing.
The decision marks the first time in Israel’s history that a serving prime minister has been told he faces criminal charges, and casts a heavy shadow over Netanyahu’s re-election campaign.
Netanyahu will be charged with fraud and breach of trust in Cases 1000 and 2000, and bribery, fraud and breach of trust in Case 4000, unless he can persuade Mandelblit to reconsider in the course of the hearing process.
The attorney general detailed the allegations in a 57-page document that was released on Thursday evening.
Mandelblit, in his decision, wrote that according to suspicions the prime minister “damaged the image of the public service and public trust in it” and is suspected of abusing his position and status, and of “knowingly taking a bribe as a public servant in exchange for actions related to your position.”
“This is hugely significant — for the prime minister and for all of us,” said Suzie Navot, a professor of constitutional and parliamentary law. “This was an investigation conducted with caution, with restraint — some would say too much restraint, over too long. The evidence was checked and re-checked.” The attorney general knew full well how dramatic would be the political fallout, she said. “And yet the decision was taken to indict, in all three cases.”
Despite reported recommendations from the state attorney and police that the prime minister stand trial for bribery in all of the cases, Mandelblit opted for the lesser charge of fraud and breach of trust in two of the affairs.
Mandelblit said he would not pursue legal action against Netanyahu’s wife Sara, who had also been a suspect in the cases.
Responding to the decision, Netanyahu’s Likud party continued to insist that “there is nothing” to the cases against the premier. It accused “the media and the left” of pressuring the attorney general into the decision. “No one is surprised by the announcement,” the party said.
Continue this story at Times of Israel
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