PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Knesset on Wednesday/ photo Gil Yohanan, Ynet News
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was questioned for the third time at his residence in Jerusalem on Friday morning in connection with two cases. what
One of them is known as the ‘1000 case’ involves allegations that he illegally accepted valuable gifts for himself and his family from business figures, notably Australian billionaire James Packer and Israeli Hollywood film producer Arnon Milchan.
The second case is known as the ‘2000 case’ relates to conversations between the prime minister and the publisher of the Yedioth Aharonoth daily, Arnon “Noni” Mozes, where Netanyahu allegedly offered to pursue legislation benefiting Mozes’ news business in exchange for favorable news coverage for the prime minister. Mozes was questioned again on that case by police on Thursday.
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The affair pertains to conversations he had with “Yedioth Ahronoth” owner and publisher Arnon “Noni” Mozes, who was also questioned Thursday by police.
Netanyahu lashed out at the media on Thursday in a Facebook post. He claimed that the media as well as politicians are pressure on Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit and law enforcement officials to have him indicted ‘at any price.’ He also called the effort an “undemocratic attempt” at “government overthrow.”
On Wednesday, Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the affair in an hour-long question session before the Knesset. He made in a similar claims:
“People, by the way, are saying this. Politicians, those in the media, commentators are saying this. (These people) are terrorizing those in charge of enforcing the law, and their message is clear: if you don’t indict Benjamin Netanyahu, you no legal expert. They tell them: bring me the head of Benjamin Netanyahu, and if not, you’re no attorney general, you’re no state attorney.”
Netanyahu continued, “Anyone with eyes in their head can see there is an unprecedented, hypocritical witch-hunt going on, asserting its pressure to change the government through media pressure on the attorney general, so that he will submit an indictment at any cost.
“They’re investigating me? They’re accusing me? This is a bad joke.”
He concluded: “I have news for you. I will continue to lead the State of Israel for many more years to come for the citizens of Israel, the State of Israel and the Jewish people.”
Police said that the corruption investigations of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have yielded sufficient evidence to confirm that he committed at least some of the crimes of which he is suspected. This reinforces assessments that police will recommend bringing charges against Netanyahu.
