Netanyahu expands legal team ahead of corruption cases

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expanded his legal team to defend himself against the several corruption cases levelled against him, Israeli media reported on Friday.

According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Netanyahu has added veteran lawyer Navot Tel-Zur – who represented former prime ministers Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert and current Interior Minister Aryeh Deri – to his defence team. He also assigned retired judge Oded Mudrick as his legal advisor.

The new additions took place after the death of Netanyahu’s lawyer Jacob Weinroth last month.

However, analysts at Israel’s Hadashot TV expect that the changes in Netanyahu’s legal team were also a sign that the prime minister believes his corruption cases will soon be brought to court.

Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has already begun making the necessary arrangements to issue recommendations regarding Netanyahu’s corruption cases. Mandelblit has been accused by the Israeli public of procrastination on this issue, after he explained that he would not make any recommendations until all investigations were complete.

Netanyahu is facing several corruption cases, labelled Cases 1000, 2000 and 4000 respectively. Allegations against him include facilitating preferential legislation in return for favourable media coverage, accepting lavish gifts from businessmen, in addition to various graft charges.

Read: Israel Police to recommend Netanyahu be tried for media corruption