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A10 WORLD NEWS
Friday 22 November 2019
Israel's Netanyahu charged in corruption cases

By JOSEF FEDERMAN rival, Benny Gantz, have
ARON HELLER failed to form a majority
Associated Press coalition in parliament.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's It is the first time in the
attorney general on nation's history that that
Thursday formally charged has happened.
Prime Minister Benjamin The country now enters
Netanyahu in a series of an unprecedented 21-
corruption cases, throwing day period in which any
the country's paralyzed member of parliament can
political system into further try to rally a 61-member
disarray and threatening majority to become
the long-time leader's grip prime minister. If that fails,
on power. new elections would be
Capping a three-year triggered.
investigation, Attorney Netanyahu is desperate
General Avichai Mandelblit to remain in office to
charged Netanyahu with fight the charges. Under
fraud, breach of trust and Israeli law, public officials
accepting bribes in three are required to resign if
different scandals. It is the charged with a crime. But
first time a sitting Israeli that law does not apply
prime minister has been to the prime minister, who
charged with a crime. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during an extended faction meeting of the can use his office as a bully
According to the right-wing bloc members at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. pulpit against prosecutors
indictment, Netanyahu Associated Press and push parliament to
accepted hundreds of The indictment does not called the allegations part magnate Shaul Elovitch, grant him immunity from
thousands of dollars of require Netanyahu to of a witch hunt, lashing out benefits worth over $250 prosecution.
champagne and cigars resign, but it significantly against the media, police, million to his company In the first sign of rebellion,
from billionaire friends, weakens him at a time prosecutors and the justice Bezeq. In return, Bezeq's Netanyahu's top Likud rival
offered to trade favors with when Israel's political system. news site, Walla, published on Thursday called for a
a newspaper publisher and system appears to be The most serious charges favorable articles about leadership primary should
used his influence to help a limping toward a third were connected to so- Netanyahu and his family. the country, as expected,
wealthy telecom magnate election in under a year. called "Case 4000," in which The relationship, it said, go to new elections.
in exchange for favorable Mandelblit was set to issue Netanyahu is accused of was "based on a mutual "I think I will be able to
coverage on a popular a statement later Thursday, passing regulations that understanding that each form a government, and
news site. as was Netanyahu, who has gave his friend, telecom of them had significant I think I will be able to
interests that the other unite the country and the
side had the ability to nation," Saar said at the
advance." It also accused Jerusalem Post Diplomatic
Netanyahu of concealing Conference in Jerusalem.
the relationship by He did not address the
providing "partial and looming criminal charges.
misleading information" The only plausible way
about his connections with out of a third election
Elovitch. — and the prolonged
Two close aides to political paralysis that has
Netanyahu turned state's gripped Israel for the past
witness and testified year — would be a unity
against him in the case. government.
The indictment also said In September's election,
that Netanyahu's gifts Blue and White edged Likud
of champagne from by one seat in the previous
billionaires Arnon Milchan election. Together, the two
and James Packer "turned parties could control a
into a sort of supply line." It parliamentary majority and
estimated the value of the avoid elections.
gifts at nearly $200,000. Both Netanyahu and Gantz
The indictment said expressed an openness to
Netanyahu assisted the a unity government. But
Israeli Milchan, a Hollywood during weeks of talks, they
mogul, in extending his U.S. could not agree on the
visa. It was not immediately terms of a power-sharing
clear what, if anything, agreement, including who
Packer, who is Australian, would serve first as prime
received in return. minister.
The decision comes at If elections are held,
a tumultuous time for opinion polls are already
the country. After an predicting a very similar
inconclusive election deadlock, signaling
in September, both additional months of horse-
Netanyahu and his chief trading and uncertainty.q