Israel begins Netanyahu’s pre-indictment corruption hearing as government talks collapse

Under-fire prime minister has dismissed graft cases as political ‘witch-hunt’ as he struggles to form ruling coalition

(EPA)

Benjamin Netanyahu is battling possible indictment on corruption charges in a string of pre-trial hearings that begin on Wednesday, as his efforts to build a unity government with a chief rival once again hit a wall.

The Israeli prime minister is not personally attending Wednesday’s legal proceedings at Israel’s justice ministry that mark his last chance to present a case before the country’s attorney-general.

Top prosecutor Avichai Mandelblit said in February he intends to file criminal charges against Netanyahu in investigations listed as cases 4000, 1000 and 2000, pending the outcome of the hearings.

Mr Netanyahu could face fraud and breach of trust charges in all three cases, and bribery charges in case 4000.

He has dismissed the accusations, saying he is the victim of a politically orchestrated “witch-hunt” by the media and the left to oust him from office.

It comes as the leader’s efforts to form a national unity government once again ground to a halt when Blue and White chief Benny Gantz rejected a proposed meeting with him on Tuesday night, as part of Mr Netanyahu’s efforts to form a centrist alliance.

The results of Israel’s September election were inconclusive but Mr Netanyahu, who currently heads up a caretaker government, was tasked with trying to patch together a ruling coalition.

Mr Gantz has refused to form to a government with Mr Netanyahu’s Likud if he remains head of the party, due to the likely corruption charges.

Mr Netanyahu’s spokespeople declined to comment on Wednesday’s proceedings or the unity talks.

But his lawyers told Israeli media outside the Justice Ministry on Wednesday that they would not be seeking a plea deal or clemency on his behalf.

“I have complete and unreserved confidence in the legal system and law enforcement. I have no doubt the attorney general will formulate his decision in a professional and appropriate manner,” said lawyer Ram Caspi, according to The Times of Israel.

Another lawyer, Amit Hadad, said that the defence team would present new evidence in the hearings, which are expected to continue through to Monday.

“We’re sure that when we finish, there will be no choice but to close the case,” public broadcaster Kan quoted him as saying.

“These cases must be closed,” he added.

Mr Netanyahu has yet to release a statement but in the past blasted the investigation as “tainted”.

On Tuesday evening he tweeted footage of his supporters chanting “You will never walk alone” in rallies against the hearing.

Mr Netanyahu is currently facing three graft cases, dubbed 4000, 2000 and 1000. He has repeatedly denied all the charges.

In case 4000, police have alleged that Mr Netanyahu, as communication minister, granted regulatory favours to Israel’s leading telecommunications company, Bezeq, in return for more positive coverage on Walla, a news website belonging to the firm’s owner.

Case 2000 focuses on suspicions Mr Netanyahu negotiated a deal with the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper for better coverage in return for promises to limit the circulation of a rival.

In the third investigation, case 1000, police argue that he received expensive gifts from wealthy friends, including Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan, in exchange for political favours.

The first two days of hearing are expected to focus on case 4000, while next week the hearings will focus on the other two cases.

The justice ministry is expected to reach a final decision by December.

The prime minister is also battling to form a unity government in a bid to stay in office.

He had sought a clear victory to secure immunity from the expected corruption trials.

In the September elections, neither Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing allies nor Mr Gantz’s centre-left bloc was able to secure the 61-seat majority of the 120-seat Knesset needed to rule.

However, President Rivlin Reuven awarded Mr Netanyahu first chance of building a coalition, because the Likud and its allies swept more seats.

But Blue and White scuppered chances of a speedy resolution to the political stand-off on Tuesday when they rejected a negotiating meeting that Mr Netanyahu had requested.

“The Blue and White faction announced that, at this stage, the preconditions upon which any further meetings between the negotiating teams may take place have not been met,” the party said in a statement.

It added: “In view of this, no meeting will be held on Wednesday … under these circumstances, there is naturally no reason to hold a meeting between the two party heads, LTG (res) Benny Gantz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at this time.”

Mr Netanyahu listens to then cabinet secretary Avichai Mandelblit during the weekly cabinet meeting. Mr Mandelblit would go on to be the attorney general who will decide whether to indict his former colleague (Reuters) (REUTERS/Abir Sultan/Pool)

The deadlock has raised fears of a possible third election in under a year. September’s election was already the second in six months after Mr Netanyahu failed to form a government following an April vote.

The idea of yet another vote is unpopular in Israel, which has been stuck in political limbo with a caretaker government for a year now.

According to new research published by The Israel Democracy Institute on Wednesday, 65 per cent of Jewish Israelis prefer a unity government compared to only 15 per cent who prefer new elections.

Meanwhile, a third of Arab or Palestinian citizens of Arab Israelis prefer a unity government and 17 per cent new elections, while half have no clear preference.

The same poll found that just over half of Israelis do not think the state should offer Benjamin Netanyahu a plea bargain.