Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is indicted in three corruption cases. Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit released on Thursday after a two-year investigation by his decision. The 69-year-old politician of the right-wing nationalist Likud is accused in an indictment of bribery. In two other cases, the prosecution embezzlement and fraud is. That could mean the political end of Netanyahu’s, has dominated for 13 years as Prime Minister the policy of the country and the upcoming elections on may 9. April is aiming for a fifth term.

to prevent on Thursday tried to Netanyahu that the Israeli Supreme court announces its decision. Netanyahu’s Likud party introduced a Petition, which is a publication until after the election on may 9. April demanded. An earlier appointment is an “unprecedented interference” in the elections, it was stated in the application. The Supreme court rejected the Petition late in the afternoon.

Formal charges until after the elections,

According to Israeli law, the Prime Minister has, like anyone Accused of a crime, but in the first instance with the opportunity to comment in a survey of the complaints against it. Only then a formal charge is levied, what will happen in a few months, and after the ballot.

Netanyahu had rejected the allegations repeatedly and announced, also in the case of an indictment not to withdraw. Legally he is obliged to do so only in the event of a conviction. Auditors had forbidden him to accept money from patrons in his defense.

Netanyahu and his wife Sara was accused by the police after completion of the investigation of bribery, fraud and embezzlement in a scandal involving the telecommunications group Bezeq. In the opinion of the investigator, there is sufficient evidence that between Netanyahu, his wife Sara, Bezeq-owner Shaul Elovitch and his wife “corrupt relationship existed”.

cigars and champagne for 280’000 Swiss francs

In the other case, the acceptance of gifts such as cigars and champagne in the value of one Million shekels (the equivalent of about 280’000 Swiss francs). The gifts came from which Israel-born Hollywood Mogul Arnon Milchan and Australian businessman James Packer, which is supposed to have been Netanyahu’s political Favor. In the third case, Netanyahu should have the publisher of the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, in return for positive coverage limitations for the free sheet Israel Hajom.

The charges will affect the election campaign and Netanyahu’s political career to decide. Since his closest rival, Benny Gantz, with Yair Lapid has closed last week, the blue-and-white Alliance, this Alliance, in surveys, some of the mandates to the Likud. According to a Wednesday survey commissioned by the Times of Israel the charge choice could be crucial. Netanyahu runs the risk to lose his party’s only place, but also the opportunity to form a government from parties of the right-wing camp. According to this survey, would lose in the case of a charge Netanyahu’s Likud four seats. The new Alliance would come to 44 mandates, the Likud, for only 25.

According to the assessment of legal experts the position of the Bezeq for Netanyahu in light of the evidence case on the dangerous. His former media Advisor, Nir Hefetz has provided to the investigators as a key witness. There are recordings of conversations in which Sara Netanyahu positive coverage in the Bezeq group belonging to the demanding Medium Walla. Walla is one of the two leading news portals in Israel. “Netanyahu and Close to him have intervened because of the content on the Walla Website bluntly, sometimes even daily, and they tried to take influence on the order of higher-ranking employees (editors and reporters), by using their relations to Shaul and Iris Elovitch,” said the police after the completion of the investigation.

Opposition demands for the resignation

Netanyahu is suspected to have in his time as Minister of communications Bezeq legal benefits. Between 2014 and 2017, the Prime Minister was in addition to the communication Department to be responsible.

The opposition parties demanded the resignation of the heads of government. As leader of the opposition Netanyahu, in 2008, had pushed the head of government, Ehud Olmert, to resign under suspicion of corruption.

attorney General Mandelblit has made the decision after consultations with a Team of legal advisers. The police had recommended charges in December – and in all three cases, for bribery, embezzlement and fraud. Sara Netanyahu since the autumn before the court. She is accused of three years at the state’s expense food supplies in the value of the equivalent of 83000 euros ordered. (Tages-Anzeiger)

Created: 28.02.2019, 17:53 PM