Israel Police to recommend Netanyahu be tried for media corruption
Israel Police are willing to submit their recommendations to the Public
Prosecutor’s Office regarding their investigation into allegations of
corruption against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli
media revealed on Friday.
Israel’s Channel 10 news reported that Case 4000 (sometimes known as the
Bezeq case) will be the third file in which the police recommend
Netanyahu be prosecuted for corruption, having previously recommended he
be charged in both Case 1000 and Case 2000.
Channel 10 added that Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Benjamin Netanyahu,
will also be investigated next month for her suspected involvement in
Case 4000.
Commenting on the investigation, Netanyahu said that he is sure the case
will be closed without presenting any indictments against him.
Case 4000 pertains to Netanyahu’s alleged arrangements with Shaul
Elovitch – the head of telecoms giant Bezeq Communications and owner of
news website Walla – which saw Netanyahu promise government concessions
and services in exchange for favourable coverage on the news site. Under
these alleged arrangements, Bezeq is thought to have earned hundreds of
millions of dollars during Netanyahu’s term as Communications Minister.
Netanyahu is currently under investigation in three cases, with a fourth
– dubbed Case 3000 – pertaining to his lawyer and cousin David
Shimron’s involvement in arranging lucrative defence deals. On 13
February Israel Police recommended that Netanyahu be charged in two
cases.
In June, the Israeli prosecution charged Sara Netanyahu with “fraud and
breach of trust” after the police carried out a long investigation into
allegations of forging family expenses. Israeli law requires any
minister in the government to resign in the event of being officially
charged with corruption.
Netanyahu has consistently stressed his innocence, arguing he is the
victim of campaigns launched by the media and the opposition aimed at
overthrowing him and his government.
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