Jerusalem: Israel’s Attorney-General has announced his plans to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, imperilling Netanyahu’s political future just 40 days before he is to stand for re-election.
The announcement by Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit was the culmination of a two-year investigation into Netanyahu’s dealings with wealthy businessmen, including Australian media mogul James Packer, a Hollywood movie producer, Israeli newspaper publishers and the head of the country’s largest telecommunications conglomerate.
The draft indictment, while expected, sent tremors through Israel’s political landscape, coming so close to what’s shaping up to be a closely fought election. It’s the first time a sitting Israeli leader has ever come so near to criminal charges.
Before any indictment is filed, Netanyahu is entitled to a hearing to present his side of the story and try to change Mandelblit’s mind, a process that could take months.
The Prime Minister, who cut short a trip to Moscow in anticipation of Mandelblit’s decision, made a statement on national television at 8pm, local time.
By turns angry and choked up, sneering and defiant, he delivered a lengthy, emotional response, his voice breaking when he alluded to the trial of his wife, Sara, on charges that she misused about $US100,000 of state funds, and to their son Yair, a right-wing provocateur on social media. They were also investigated, but the attorney-general said neither would be charged.
Read the article by Jeffrey Heller in The Sydney Morning Herald (from Reuters, The New York Times).