JERUSALEM: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday hiscoalition government remained stable and would continue to govern despitepolice recommendations he is indicted for bribery.
“I want to reassure you, the coalition is stable. No one, not I, not anyoneelse, has plans to go to an election.
We will continue to work with you for the good of Israel`s citizens untilthe end of the term,” Netanyahu said at a conference in Tel Aviv.
His remarks came the morning after Israeli police made public theirrecommendations, presenting Netanyahu with one of the biggest challenges inhis political career.
It is now up to Israel`s attorney general to decide whether to filecharges, a process that could take months.
Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing in both police criminal investigations thathave gone on for more than a year.
One of the cases, known as Case 1000, alleged the “committing of crimes ofbribery, fraud and breach of trust by the prime minister, Mr BenjaminNetanyahu.”
POLITICAL FAVOURS
Police named Arnon Milchan, a Hollywood producer and Israeli citizen, andAustralian businessman James Packer, saying they gave gifts that includedchampagne, cigars and jewellery to Netanyahu and his family.
In all, the merchandise was worth more than one million shekels ($280,000),the statement said. Any legal proceedings would likely focus on whetherpolitical favours were sought or granted.
Netanyahu`s lawyers said the presents were simply tokens of friendship.
On Tuesday night, Israel`s Channel 10 television quoted a lawyer forMilchan as saying that occasional gift-giving was devoid of any businessinterests.
In an emailed statement on Tuesday, after the police recommendations weremade public, a spokesman for Packer said: “There is no allegation ofwrongdoing on Mr. Packer`s behalf.
The Israeli and Australian police have confirmed that he was interviewed asa witness, not a suspect.”
The second, Case 2000, also alleged “bribery, fraud and breach of trust bythe prime minister” relating to his dealings with Arnon Mozes, thepublisher of the biggest-selling Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.
The two men, police said, discussed ways of slowing the growth of a rivaldaily newspaper, Israel Hayom, “through legislation and other means”.Police said they believed there was sufficient evidence to charge Mozeswith offering a bribe.
Navit Negev and Iris Niv-Sabag, lawyers for Arnon (Noni) Mozes, said in astatement published by Yedioth Ahronoth on Wednesday: “Noni Mozes hasstrong legal arguments in his favour, and we believe that after anadditional examination of the evidence by the prosecutor`s office the caseagainst him will be closed and it will become clear that he committed nocrime.”
Netanyahu was critical of the police in his remarks on Wednesday, as he hasbeen for months.
“After reading the recommendations report, I can say that it is a biased,extreme document full of holes, like Swiss cheese,” Netanyahu said.
“I am certain, as I have always been certain, and nothing has changed, thatthe truth will come to light and nothing will come of this.”