{"id":86096,"date":"2025-07-04T18:18:33","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T22:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=86096"},"modified":"2025-07-04T19:33:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T23:33:14","slug":"86096","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=86096","title":{"rendered":"Will Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be Convicted on Corruption Charges of Bribery,Fraud and Breach of Trust or Simply be let off the Hook?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/p>\n

D.B.S. Jeyaraj<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is no secret that US president Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are both members of an exclusive mutual admiration society. Posting recently on his Truth Social platform,Trump praised Netanyahu lavishly saying there was “no one that I know who could have worked in better harmony” with him. Netanyahu responded “We will continue to work together to defeat our common enemies, free our hostages, and quickly expand the circle of peace.”<\/p>\n

Trump also waded into a controversial area to take up cudgels on behalf of Netanyahu. Referring to the on going cases of corruption in Israeli courts against the Israeli premier, Trump demanded that Netanyahu be let off the hook. According to news reports,Trump wanted the cases against Netanyahu to be “cancelled immediately” or he should be given a pardon, adding that he learned Netanyahu was due to appear in court on Monday. Trump described the case against Netanyahu as a “witch hunt”. Trump described his long-time ally as a “great hero, who has done so much” for Israel, and a “warrior”.<\/p>\n

Another western media analyst observed thus \u2013\u201cNetanyahu’s trials have been taking place against the backdrop of the conflicts Israel has been engaged in since the deadly and unprecedented 7 October 2023 Hamas attack, leading to delays in the legal proceedings.In particular, the length of the war against Hamas in Gaza has led to claims by some that Netanyahu wants to prolong the fighting to delay elections and the conclusion of his trials.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cruel Genocidal War<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It is against this backdrop that this column focuses this week on the court cases concerning corruption charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Even as Netanyahu continues to unleash a cruel genocidal war against the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, The Damoclean sword of legal proceedings hangs above him. Legal circles opine that if convicted Netanyahu could face imprisonment up to ten years. Netanyahu has denied any wrong doing and emphasised his innocence.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Longest Serving Israeli PM<\/strong><\/p>\n

Benjamin Netanyahu known as \u201cBibi\u201d is the longest serving Prime Minister in Israel\u2019s history. He has served as PM from 1996 to 1999, 2009 to 2021 and from 2022 to date. Altogether \u201cBibi\u201dNetanhahu has been Israeli premier for more than 17 years.<\/p>\n

When allegations of corruption began to surface against Netanyahu, the Israeli Police commenced – in December 2016 – a discreet investigation despite the fact that Bibi was the prime minister of Israel. Subsequently news about the investigation became known to the public..<\/p>\n

On 3 August 2017 the Israeli Police announced that Prime Minister Netanyahu had been \u201cinterviewed\u201d on more than one occasion regarding allegations of corruption. Police said follow up action regarding an indictment would be taken by the Attorney-General\u2019s department. On the following day newspapers reported that Netanyahu\u2019s former chief of staff Ari Harrow would turn state witness and testify against Netanyahu in court.<\/p>\n

Netanyahu dismissed the Police charges against him as \u201cbaseless and unfounded\u201d. He announced he would continue to remain as prime minister and would not resign. This resulted in demonstrations being held every Sunday in various parts of Israel.The protesters demanded that there should be no interference with the investigation and that legal action should not be delayed.<\/p>\n

Five Case Files<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Police investigation focused on five areas and five different case files were opened. It was reported in the press on 25 November 2018 that Economic Crimes Division director Liat Ben \u2013 Ari had recommended that Netanyahu be charged for corruption.<\/p>\n

After an intense probe, Israeli State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan officially recommended on 19 December 2018 to Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be indicted on five charges..The following day on 20 December 2018, Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced he would “work quickly” on the case, but emphasised that it would not be \u201c at the expense of quality decisions and professionalism\u201d <\/p>\n

Attorney -General<\/strong><\/p>\n

On 28 February 2019, Netanyahu\u2019s Likud party filed a motion in the Israeli Supreme Court against the Attorney -General making a public statement regarding the Netanyahu investigation. The Supreme Court rejected it. Immediately after the Supreme Court ruling, Attorney -General Mandelblit announced publicly that he would be indicting Prime Minister Netanyahu on three of the five charges recommended by the Police. The AG said the indictment would take effect after a public hearing.<\/p>\n

Bribery,Fraud and Breach of Trust.<\/strong> <\/p>\n

The hearing was held in October 2019. On 21 November 2019, the Israeli Attorney-General formally indicted the Israeli Prime Minister in three cases -numbered 1000, 2000 and 4000 – on charges of Bribery,Fraud and Breach of trust. Thus Benjamin Netanyahu became the first sitting Prime minister in Israel\u2019s history to be indicted for criminal offences. If convicted Netanyahu could face prison sentences up to ten years for bribery and up to three years for fraud and breach of trust.<\/p>\n

Consequently on 23 November 2019 Netanyahu relinquished the ministerial portfolios held by him such as Agriculture, Health, Social affairs and Diaspora affairs. This was in accordance with a legal precedent set in 1993 .Netanyahu continued to remain as Prime minister. It is yet to be tested in courts whether an indicted Prime Minister could continue to remain in office.<\/p>\n

CASE 1000<\/strong><\/p>\n

The indictment of Netanyahu in CASE 1000 concerns two billionaire businessmen One is well known Hollywood movie mogul Arnon Milchan and the other is James Packer the son of Australian media magnate Kerry Packer. The prosecution says Netanyahu has been receiving gifts of expensive cigars and wine from both billionaires for several years The value of these gifts are estimated at US$ 195,000. The prosecution also alleges that Netanyahu\u2019s wife Sara received jewellery valued at 31,000 $ dollars as presents. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said the gifts were given continuously, \u201csuch that they became a sort of \u2018supply channel\u201d. Mandeblit said the gifts \u201c were given to Netanyahu \u201cin connection with his public roles and his status as Israel\u2019s Prime Minister\u201d.<\/p>\n

In return Netanyahu is accused of using his influence as Prime minister to help Milchan and his friend Packer in commercial dealings such as company mergers. Netanyahu is also accused of trying to secure tax exemptions for Milchan. It is also alleged that Netanyahu interceded thrice with former US secretary of State John Kerry on Milchan\u2019s behalf.<\/p>\n

CASE 2000<\/strong><\/p>\n

In CASE 2000 the charges pertain to Netanyahu\u2019s relationship with Arnon Mozes the proprietor and publisher of Israel\u2019s largest selling newspaper \u201cYedioth Ahronoth\u201d. Netanyahu is accused of a deal with Mozes by which the newspaper promoted Netanyahu and his family positively while projecting his political rivals negatively. In return Netanyahu is accused of introducing legislation concerning the media that helped impose restrictions on rival newspapers while aiding Mozes to maximise profits. <\/p>\n

Attorney -General Mandelblit in his indictment summary said Netanyahu and Mozes conducted three series of meetings between 2008 and 2014.During these meetings, Netanyahu and Mozes \u201cengaged in discussions regarding the promotion of their common interests: improving the coverage that Mr. Netanyahu received in the \u2018Yedioth Aharonoth\u2019 media group; and the imposition of restrictions on the \u2018Israel Hayom\u2019 newspaper\u201d, Mandelblit said in the summary.<\/p>\n

CASE 4000<\/strong><\/p>\n

CASE 4000 concerns the communications conglomerate \u201cBezeq\u201downed by entrepreneur Shaul Elovitch.Case 4000 indicts Netanyahu for granting regulatory favours to Bezeq in return for positive coverage of him and his wife on the news website \u201cWalla\u201dcontrolled by Elovitch.
\n.
\n According to the Attorney -General\u2019s indictment summary ,Netanyahu, in his capacity as communications minister at the time, provided regulatory benefits to Shaul Elovitch, the owner of Bezeq who also controlled the news website Walla.The benefits reportedly included mergers and financial gains.In exchange, Elovitch provided favourable coverage of Netanyahu and his wife.
\nNetanyahu \u201cdealt on several occasions with regulatory matters pertaining to Mr Elovitch, and took specific actions that promoted significant business interests of Mr Elovitch of substantial financial value\u201d, the indictment summary said.<\/p>\n

CASE 1270<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apart from CASE 1000,CASE 2000 and CASE 4000 where Indictments were filed against Netanyahu, the Israeli Attorney -General did not proceed with two other cases. The first was CASE 1270 in which Netanyahu was suspected of trying to appoint district court president Hila Gerstel as Attorney -General in return for the new AG dropping charges against Sara Netanyahu over another matter. Gerstel reportedly refused the offer. The AG did not proceed with the case due to inadequate evidence.<\/p>\n

CASE 3000<\/strong><\/p>\n

The other was CASE 3000 concerning the purchase of three Dolphin-class submarines and four Sa’ar 6-class corvettes from the German company \u201cThyssenKrupp\u201d by Israel costing more than a billion dollars. It was alleged that the decision to purchase from the German company \u201cThyssenKrupp\u201d was a sordid, underhand deal .Netanyahu’s cousin and personal lawyer David Shimron, who represented the German company in Israel is one of the prime suspects. However Netanyahu was dropped as a direct suspect in the case after investigations.<\/p>\n

Netanyahu Trial<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Netanyahu indictment trial commenced on 24 May 2020, in the Jerusalem District Court, with judges Rivka Friedman-Feldman, Moshe Bar-Am, and Oded Shaham presiding, and Friedman-Feldman serving as the lead judge. <\/p>\n

The trial had four preliminary hearings in 2020. At the first hearing, the judges read out the charges. Netanyahu was exempted from appearing at most subsequent hearings. On 5 April 2021, the trial moved into the phase of hearing witness testimonies. Three former confidants of Netanyahu were implicated in criminal charges, and agreed to serve as state witnesses as part of plea bargain agreements.<\/p>\n

The prosecution rested in July 2024. Netanyahu’s testimony was scheduled to begin on 2 December 2024. Due to several reasons including much \u201cfilibustering\u201d by Netanyahu\u2019s lawyers, it did not happen as scheduled. Finally Netanyahu’s cross examination began on June 3, 2025.<\/p>\n

Donald Trump\u2019s Declaration.<\/strong><\/p>\n

President Trump\u2019s public declaration that the cases against Netanyahu should either be dropped or a pardon should be given to the Israeli PM is likely to impact on the cases concerned. Trump\u2019s glowing references to Netanyahu as a “great hero, who has done so muchfor Israel\u201d is likely to strike a responsive chord in the hearts and minds of many Israelis. In such a situation , a great question mark hangs over the future of the legal proceedings relating to Benjamin Netanyahu. Will the Israeli Prime minister be prosecuted and convicted for bribery,fraud and breach of trust? <\/p>\n


\nD.B.S. Jeyaraj can be reached at dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This article appears in the \u201cDBS Jeyaraj Column\u201d of the \u201cDaily Mirror\u201ddated 28 June 2025. It can be accessed here –<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/opinion\/Will-Israeli-PM-Netanyahu-be-Convicted-of-Charges-of-Corruption\/172-312772<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n


\n************************************************************************<\/strong><\/p>\n

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By D.B.S. Jeyaraj It is no secret that US president Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are both members of an exclusive mutual admiration society. Posting recently on his Truth Social platform,Trump praised Netanyahu lavishly saying there was “no one that I know who could have worked in better harmony” with him. Netanyahu …<\/p>\n

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