Without Fear Or Favour

"For years now, left-wing protesters and media have levelled thuggish, inhumane pressure at the attorney general to get him to file an indictment against me at any cost, even when there's nothing there."
"This pressure is now reaching a climax. They're trying to force the attorney general to brazenly intervene in the elections by ordering me to a hearing, despite knowing that it won't be possible to conclude the hearing process by election day. It's unconscionable to start a hearing process before elections that can't be concluded by the elections."
"During the investigations, I demanded a confrontation [routine under Israeli law] with the state's witnesses. I wanted to look them in the eyes and show them the truth. I asked twice and was rejected."
"What do they have to be afraid of? What are they hiding? I am not afraid. I do not have anything to hide. Therefore, tonight, I repeat my demand for a confrontation with state's witnesses. I am certain that I am right."
"The police recommendations regarding me and my wife don’t surprise anyone, nor does the transparent timing of their publication."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Jan. 6, 2019. Early elections may be Netanyahu's best offensive defense against criminal investigations he has deemed a "witch hunt."

Credit:   Gali Tibbon/Reuters

"Such utterances seek to harm the deepest foundations of the rule of law. They are irresponsible."
Avichal Mandelblit, Israeli attorney general

"Even the parties to the right of the Likud, who are trying to pull votes from Netanyahu’s party, are not challenging his leadership and agree that he will be the next prime minister."
"Israeli society is divided, and these are identity politics. Netanyahu’s voters see this as an issue of community, almost family. In contrast to the left, which is based on universalism, equality, human rights, and has distanced itself from instincts of belonging, Netanyahu talks about Jewish community and superiority.  To many, that is like a comforting warm embrace."
"Macroeconomic indicators are good, socioeconomic gaps are becoming smaller, the security situation is fairly stable, and unemployment is at a low of [3.9 percent]. Why wouldn’t his public support him?"
Professor Tamar Hermann, Israel Democracy Institute, and Open University

"Netanyahu wants to turn around to the attorney general and say: ‘Before you decide to prosecute me, pay attention. The people of Israel have re-elected me for a fourth time’ — hopefully, he will be able to say with more seats than ever before — ‘You cannot overturn the results of a democratic election'."
Reuven Hazan, professor of political science , Hebrew University

"The main suspicion is that the prime minister took bribes and acted in a conflict of interest by intervening and acting in regulatory decisions that favor Shaul Elovitch and the Bezeq Group, while at the same time directly and indirectly demanded interference with the content of the Walla site in a way that would benefit him."
"[The prime minister used his office] to promote Shaul Elovitch’s regulatory affairs, including the issue of the Bezeq-Yes merger, and including the coverage of these matters in Walla’s positive coverage. The intervention of the prime minister and his associates in the contents and appointments of employees at the Walla website was intended to promote his personal interests by publishing flattering articles and pictures, and removing critical content about the prime minister and his family."
"The findings also revealed that the Elovitch family influenced Walla’s publications, in exchange for the prime minister’s regulatory decisions in favor of of Shaul Elovitch and the Bezeq Group, and out of a desire to further advance the business interests of the Bezeq Group in general and its controlling shareholder in particular."
Joint statement, Israeli Police and the Israel Securities Authority

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and his wife Sara in Jerusalem, on May 16, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Benjamin Netanyahu has fulfilled his obligations as an effectively reliable Prime Minister of Israel for the past three years, all the while under police investigation on multiple allegations of corruption. Some of his former aides have decided to turn state witness for the purpose of proffering evidence against their former boss; three former senior aides who had worked in his office among them with presumably lots to add to the discussion.

When police handed investigation files over to the country's attorney general a recommendation came with the files that the prime minister be indicted. This is a process requiring the police to investigate and recommend to the Attorney General whether to indict, whereupon the most senior prosecutors review evidence and recommendation ensues to determine whether to further the process. A hearing must be held to reach a conclusion prior to the laying of a final criminal charge.

The integrity of senior law enforcement institutions in Israel is in the public spotlight, at least by the Prime Minister and his supporters. The chief prosecutor of Israel and the attorney general rebuked the prime minister for questioning the justice system, pointing out the irresponsibility of undermining public trust in senior public officers' professionalism. On the other hand, a sitting prime minister is being profiled as corrupt in his office, threatened with removal.

In other countries 'indiscretions' viewed as corrupt acts of various degrees receive shrugs, much comment, and on occasion investigations upon which a warning to the malefactor in office is seen to suffice. Canada's prime minister has been investigated on a number of occasions for breaking the law and engaging in corrupt practices, from receiving costly gifts from wealthy patrons he calls "family friends", to making himself available at high entry costs to Chinese entrepreneurs to benefit his Liberal party. He has interfered in vital contracts for military equipment, has been instrumental in falsely charging the second-in-command of the Canadian military with a criminal offence.

In the U.S., former President Bill Clinton's charitable trust has received funding from diverse sources, many of which come with subtly unstated strings attached. When Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State and able to dole out government favours, substantial donations were made to the Clinton Foundation by Saudi Arabia and Qatar among other questionable sources not necessarily otherwise given to philanthropy. Bill Clinton was himself a candidate as president for impeachment for his unrepentant, habitual womanizing.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is assured of loyalty from his wide political base -- typically Israeli Jews of Sephardic origins who tend to be more conservative as well as Jews from the former Soviet Union; little wonder, having come from life among Arab and Muslim (and Communist) countries, who favour national security and the pragmatic hard line politics that living in a rough neighbourhood require. Whereas Jews descended from Eastern Europe are more inclined to be liberal in their outlook and tend to dominate cultural and national life in Israel.

Israeli law provides for an accused and accusers to meet in the presence of police where doubt exists with respect to the credibility of evidence. The purpose is to enable discussion and in the process give law enforcement the opportunity to carefully assess all dimensions of any given evidence in a more rounded context. Prime Minister Netanyahu, in demanding that this normal process be allowed him emphasized the refusal of his request as jarring in democratic Israel.

Irrespective of his complaints with respect to the actions of the police and their prolonged investigation and decision to urge the attorney general to indict him for corruption based on the evidence on hand, Mr. Netanyahu carefully speaks of the critical importance of Israel's independent judiciary and law-enforcement in its democratic setting. While at the same time asserting no branch of government can be immune from criticism as he attacked the competence of police and other law enforcement personnel.

In short, this very public, high-level spat, spitting and snarling in a political-based impasse is also typical of the culture for it seems that Jews and their opinions are seldom aligned, with diverse, strongly-held opinions continually fostering disputes ad infinitum from all aspects of the political spectrum and beyond.

Police chief Roni Alsheich and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, December 3, 2015. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)