Israeli AG Formally Charges Netanyahu With Fraud, Bribery, Breach Of Trust
Nov 21, 2019, 9:50 AM | Updated: Jun 8, 2022, 4:49 pm
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes a statement before a right wing parties meeting on November 20, 2019 in Jerusalem, Israel. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)
(Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)
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.
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.
