JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel’s attorney general on Thursday formally charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a series of corruption cases, throwing the country’s paralyzed political system into further disarray and threatening the long-time leader’s grip on power.
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Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit charged Netanyahu with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three different scandals. It is the first time a sitting Israeli prime minister has been charged with a crime. Mandelblit was set to issue a formal statement later Thursday.
Allegations against Netanyahu include suspicions he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars of champagne and cigars from billionaire friends, offered to trade favors with a newspaper publisher and used his influence to help a wealthy telecom magnate in exchange for favorable coverage on a popular news site.
The indictment does not require Netanyahu to resign but is expected to raise pressure on him to step down.
Netanyahu has called the allegations part of a witch hunt, lashing out against the media, police, prosecutors and the justice system.
Netanyahu was scheduled to issue a statement later Thursday.
Its about time we should learn from them. PM ( or Presidents) are not Kings. If they commit a crime they should do the time..
So much like Trump but we take these seriously, not like Americans.
I remember, back in 1973, when the then Vice President Spiro Theodore Agnew, was being investigated by the Justice Department for corruption, and accepting bribes, while he was Governor of Maryland. Agnew kept stating “If I’m indicted, I will not resign”. Well guess what, that coward took a plea deal, and pleaded no contest. Then, he resigned, in the Fall of 1973, becoming the first VP in history to resign from office. Nixon nominated Rep. Gerald Ford to become Vice President. Ford was the only VP and President in history, not to be elected to either office, since he became President when Nixon resigned, and lost in the 1976 election, to Jimmie Carter.
The point that I’m trying to make, is that for the sake of the government of Israel, Netanyahu should do the right thing, and step aside. After more than a dozen years in office, it is time for new leadership. Even our esteemed President, is not too happy with Netanyahu, and I’m convinced that Trump will not mind if Netanyahu steps down.
Incidentally, I’m sure that Mr. Educated Archy will stick his demeaning and derogatory two cents in. However, I will let his insults bounce off me, like bullets bouncing off a tank.
Its a joke indeed . The best Prime Minster ever we had .
Nobody is indispensable. There are dozens of other people available who can lead the nation, any nation. Somehow Bib is saying that forming a government, running the government somehow requires him.
At this point he is a distraction. There is important work to be done and Israel needs someone who can devote full time to being head of government.
Bib needs to go and a new generation needs to step up.
Why should he be any different than Ehud Barak who also denied everything and had to leave office. Nobody should be above the law ,EVEN presidents !!! Instead of setting an example for their constituents , they are the most corrupt and arrogant people,..Time to change laws to make Everyone , even heads if state EQUAL under the LAW…..