prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, delivered a strong criticism against the charges, he on Sunday had turned up in court to hear it read aloud.
the Charges against him are fabricated with the aim to ’topple a strong right wing prime minister’, considers Netanyahu.
Before he went into the courtroom, he told reporters that the charges against him is a ‘coup attempt’.
Police and prosecutors have joined forces with venstrefløjsjournalister to put together the fabricated and distorted cases against me, ” he says.
– But I’m no poodle, he adds.
Netanyahu is the first sitting prime minister in Israel’s history, made for the court.
The 70-year-old leader is accused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
He must have offered political favours in return for positive press coverage, and he was accused also of having helped rich business associates in return for receiving gifts.
He has repeatedly denied all the charges.
If he is found guilty, he risks up to 10 years in prison. It is, however, considered unlikely that the penalties will be so harsh.
Sunday’s hearing lasted about an hour and ended about at 15.
the prime minister himself spoke only in court, when he had to confirm his identity.
His defenders say that they need at least two to three months of additional preparation. It’s not about ‘buying time’, as a defender Micha Fetman said. But only one of these cases contains 20.000 documents.
the Case against Netanyahu was initiated a week after he was sworn in as head of a unity government. It consists of his own Likud party, and the party Blue and White, led by Benny Gantz.
– As any other citizen is Netanyahu is innocent until he is found guilty, said Gantz, before the trial was initiated on Sunday.
the intergovernmental agreement between the two implies that Netanyahu is sitting on the post of prime minister in the first 18 months. Then takes Gantz to the post in november 2021.
According to israeli law, Netanyahu can only go as prime minister, if he is found guilty. It may take several years before the fall of judgment.
