Israel prosecutor suggests indicting Netanyahu in 2 bribery cases

Israeli State Prosecution has completed its work on the three criminal cases against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting he be indicted in two bribery cases, the State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan said yesterday.

While speaking at a conference in Jerusalem, Nitzan said probes into the corruption case referred to as Case 4000 show that it constitutes “a clear case of bribery”, while Cases 1000 and 2000 are seen as “bribery lite”.

Haaretz reported Nitzan saying that the attorney general would discuss “the complex, ethical and legal issues that arise from these cases based on the opinions he will hear in order to make a decision,” noting that the opinion drafted by the prosecutor’s office is 800 pages long.

“We have made and will continue to make every effort to finish the work as soon as possible,” the Times of Israel reported Nitzan saying.

READ: Netanyahu’s wife grilled on new fraud allegation 

“In recent months, I have held exhaustive meetings with the prosecution and clarified various judicial and evidence-related questions.”

“After the end of the discussions, the recommendation of the attorney general will  be published alongside my own recommendation.”

He warned that measures could be taken by the government to nullify the findings of the judicial rulings, but said this would mean “abolishing democracy and power of law”.

Netanyahu is currently entangled in four political scandals: Case 1000 which involves allegations that the PM and his wife accepted illegal gifts from businessmen; Case 2000 which accuses Netanyahu of attempting to buy favourable newspaper coverage; Case 3000, also known as the “submarine scandal”; and Case 4000, in which a close associate of Netanyahu is suspected of providing confidential information to Israel’s largest telecoms company.

The prime minister’s wife, Sara Netanyahu, has also been accused of using public funds for private expenditure in the prime minister’s households. Only 20 per cent of respondents to the recent survey believe she is innocent.