By Ira Sharkansky
JERUSALEM — We now have the indictments, subject to hearings, on three cases against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On one, involving gifts amounting to nearly a half million shekels, the indictment will be for breach of trust.
On another, involving discussions with the publisher of Yedioth Aharonoth, the indictment is fraud and breach of trust.
On the third, concerned with dealing with the head of Israel’s primary communication conglomerate, the indictment is fraud, breach of trust, and bribery.
We’ve had an evening of commentators shuffling between more than 50 pages, telling details of give and take which allow us to accept decisions of prosecutors that each of the cases could have produced indictments for the leading charge of bribery.
We’ve heard detailed description of Bibi’s handling of Walla, an Internet newspaper tied to Case 4000, where he insisted on more favorable treatment of himself, his wife and son, changed the pictures of him and his wife in key stories, and produced nasty stuff about Naftali Bennett and Moshe Kahlon, Bibi’s competitors to the right of center..
There’s also been an opportunity to hear leading Likudniks defending the Prime Minister. Each has argued that he’s innocent until proved otherwise in a court of law, and that he has a right to run again for the Office of Prime Minister.
Could he handle the complications of his personal legal problems along with the public issues that reach the Office of the Prime Minister? The response has been that he’s shown the capacity to do that.
Mixed with all of this is a letter from Alan Dershowitz, which defends Netanyahu on the ground that what he is alleged to have done is standard politics.
Apparently, the Legal Adviser to the Government (i.e., the Chief Prosecutor) ignored that letter, which Dershowitz wrote without a full awareness of the details in the three cases, or Israeli law.
The Prime Minister’s response began with his reciting accomplishments– his recent meeting with Vladimir Putin, and praise from Donald Trump. Then he labeled the opposition to Likud as leftist, with the support of the media. He claims they have harassed the Legal Adviser to the Government until he caved under the pressure. The left, along with the media and the support of Arabs will–according to Netanyahu–do what they can to topple him and Likud in the coming election. He concluded by indicating his intention to continue as Prime Minister for years to come.
The hearings would begin three or four months after the election, take several months, with more months required for the Legal Adviser to the Government to decide finally on an indictment. Then who knows how much time for court processes and appeals.
Benny Gantz followed the Prime Minister with a praise of Bibi’s record, but an assertion that he could not manage his personal problems along with running the government. He called for the Prime Minister’s resignation, and wished him well in his personal struggle. Should he win his case, he could return to politics and run again for the country’s highest office.
Along with all else, there’s a charge made by a former Israeli, now an American, about an improper sexual advance by Benny Gantz, some 40 years ago, when both were young teenagers. The case was brought to Israeli headlines by an aide to Meri Regev, one of Netanyahu’s supporters. It was met with a sharp rejection by Gantz, his introduction of a suit for slander, and a demand for some half million dollars in damages.
Initial polls are showing a loss for Likud and gain for Blue and White. Currently it looks like Likud cannot form a government with Bibi at its head.
Bibi’s colleagues and supporters are singing their condemnation of what they call the left, media, and Arabs, that will produce a Palestinian State if they are elected.
Actually there is no indication that Gantz, Yair Lapid, Moshe Ya’alon and others in Blue and White would accept a Palestinian State. Lapid has indicated a willingness to align with Likud, but without Bibi, after the election.
Fake news seems an appropriate description of Bibi’s campaign.
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Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com