Real estate agent (and previous owner) omit to tell one little detail, liable for damages ?

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Israeli attorney-general plans to charge Netanyahu in corruption cases

By Jeffrey Heller

 

FILE PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement to the media in Tel Aviv, Israel February 21, 2019 REUTERS/ Ammar Awad/File Photo

 

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's attorney-general announced on Thursday he intends to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges, a decision coming just six weeks before a closely contested national election.

 

It was the first time a serving Israeli prime minister has been put on official notice of planned prosecution, and deepened uncertainty over how Netanyahu, a veteran right-wing leader, will fare against a coalition of upstart centrist rivals.

 

An actual filing of the charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust would depend on the outcome of a required hearing, the Justice Ministry said. That could take months to complete.

 

At that hearing - which could take place after the April 9 election - Netanyahu can try to persuade the attorney-general, Avichai Mandelblit, not to indict him.

 

His voice brimming with indignation as he addressed the nation during prime-time TV news, Netanyahu dismissed the three criminal cases as a political "witch-hunt" designed to oust him.

 

"I intend to serve you and the country as prime minister for many more years. But it's up to you," he said, referring to his hopes of winning a fourth consecutive term in April.

 

"It's not up to the civil servants. It's not up to the television studios. It's not up to the pundits and journalists."

 

Netanyahu is suspected of wrongfully accepting $264,000-worth of gifts, which prosecutors said included cigars and champagne, from tycoons and dispensing favours in alleged bids for improved coverage by an Israeli newspaper and a website.

 

He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of bribery and a maximum 3-year term for fraud and breach of trust.

 

Israel's shekel weakened against the dollar on the news. It was trading at 3.63 per dollar at 1620 GMT, from 3.6240 before the announcement and down 0.4 percent versus the U.S. currency from Wednesday.

 

Opinion polls show a tight race for Netanyahu's Likud party, with sharp gains for a centre-left alliance led by Benny Gantz, a former armed forces chief who has pledged clean government.

 

'CLOSE CALL' ELECTIONS

At the hearing with Mandelblit, the 69-year-old Netanyahu can cite the public interest in arguing against an indictment. In his statement on Thursday, the prime minister touted what he has achieved for the country: noting the strong economy and ties with world powers that he has cultivated over the last decade.

 

"This is not to be taken for granted," he said.

 

Netanyahu would be under no legal requirement to resign, even if indicted. But if he were re-elected it would likely be to lead a coalition, as he does now, and if he were indicted, public pressure could buckle the necessary alliances.

 

Gantz said on Thursday he would not join Netanyahu in any future coalition government given the possible corruption indictment, and called on the prime minister to step down.

 

Yohanan Plesner, president of the non-partisan Israel Democracy Institute, said he did not expect a dramatic shift in public opinion against Netanyahu.

 

"However, since the elections are such a close call, even a movement of few percentage points in either direction can make the difference between Netanyahu winning as prime minister - or his main challenger, Mr. Benny Gantz," said Plesner.

 

Netanyahu's supporters generally back his hawkish stands on Iran and the Palestinians, credit him for the strong economy and greatly admire his command of English and international standing.

 

Many of his opponents see him as a divisive leader whose alliance with the far-right has harmed democracy and made any prospect of peace with the Palestinians even more remote.

 

Anshel Pfeffer, author of a recent Netanyahu biography, said on Twitter that Israel was entering "uncharted waters" in which "no one has any idea how being a prime minister under notice of indictment will effect Netanyahu and his government".

 

'SAD DAY'

U.S. President Donald Trump, asked at a news conference earlier on Thursday about Netanyahu's legal troubles, voiced support for the Israeli leader. Trump and Netanyahu have been in lockstep over policy towards Iran and the Palestinians.

 

"Well, I just think he has been a great prime minister," said Trump.

 

U.S.-brokered peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed in 2014 and the Trump administration is expected to unveil a new peace plan after the Israeli election.

 

The Palestinian leadership did not immediately comment on the news of Netanyahu's pending indictment.

 

Sitting in a cafe in the city of Hebron, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, 28-year-old Palestinian student Abdallah al-Razem said Netanyahu's legal predicament was in the interest of the Palestinian people.

 

But he added: "There is also corruption within our government ... I hope such a decision gets implemented here too."

 

Roy Slor, a 47-year-old Israeli who works with people with disabilities, watched the news on television in a Tel Aviv cafe.

 

"I think it's a very sad day for us in Israel. I was upset hearing the news," he said. "It's not an easy day when the prime minister is accused of these allegations."

 

(Additional reporting by Dan Williams and Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, Rami Ayyub in Tel Aviv and Yosri al-Jamal in Hebron; Editing by Stephen Farrell and Frances Kerry)

 

 -- © Copyright Reuters 2019-03-01

[nobodysfriend]

Sorry , but put him in prison , that's the place where he belongs !

[maxx58]

1 hour ago, nobodysfriend said:

Sorry , but put him in prison , that's the place where he belongs !

His despicable and evil wife, also!

[gamini]

He is guilty of war crimes against the Palestinian people. Hope they succeed in putting him in prison where he belongs.

[Guest Jerry787]

lets hope they trow Nettanyhau in jail anf trow away the keys, at least for the mass murders of the palestinians !

[Morch]

 

As far as the upcoming elections goes, the AG's decision may effect several issues. These are somewhat interrelated, but there are multiple ways in which they could be played out.

 

There are no great changes expected among Netanyahu's voter base. The sentiment could be said to match that of Trump supporters with regard to various allegations and criticism leveled at him. Netanyahu have been preaching against the media, the left, the courts and whatnot for years now. So at most, there will be some shifting of votes to other (more extreme) right wing parties.

 

The main effect (if, indeed, there will be one) would be with regard to voters labeled as undecided. A recent poll suggests that even the AG's decision, regardless of how it pans out, translates into the new center party challenging Netanyahu making considerable gains and widening the gap. Granted, polls are polls and these are early stages of the election campaign.

 

Next issue relates to forming coalitions. So far, statements from various parties regrading cooperation with Netanyahu or his rival post-elections are pretty much as expected. Being politics, none of these is written in stone, but I think it would be hard for some to go back on their words. Generally speaking, it would still be easier for Netanyahu to form a coalition (if a narrow and unstable one).

 

But this is where the previous point comes into play. More votes to major/larger parties imply smaller ones could have trouble making the electoral threshold. There are currently about half a dozen parties (from either side of the political divide) which might be effected. How the political landscape may look under such conditions is a good question. Predictions either based on current political strength or disregarding the distinct possibility some parties won't make the cut, ought to be treated carefully.

 

The AG's decision is a preliminary one. Still a long legal way to go. If there would be any meaningful legal action taken it would probably would be mid-end 2020. So Netanyahu's potential coalition partners (if he wins the elections) would have ample opportunities to either bale out or extract political gains.

 

And always good to quote Netanyahu's own words from 2008, directed at the then prime minister, Olmert:

 

"A prime minister who is up to his neck in investigations doesn’t have the moral and the public mandate to make fateful decisions,” he told Channel 2 TV in December 2008. “There is the concern that he might make decisions not according to what is best for the nation, but only for his own political survival.”

 

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, gamini said:

He is guilty of war crimes against the Palestinian people. Hope they succeed in putting him in prison where he belongs.

 

Who appointed you Judge and Jury? AFAIK no charges of war crimes have been laid against him.

 

The rantings of terrorists, Islamic Jihadists and the odd TVF poster don't constitute charges.

[Baerboxer]

19 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

As far as the upcoming elections goes, the AG's decision may effect several issues. These are somewhat interrelated, but there are multiple ways in which they could be played out.

 

There are no great changes expected among Netanyahu's voter base. The sentiment could be said to match that of Trump supporters with regard to various allegations and criticism leveled at him. Netanyahu have been preaching against the media, the left, the courts and whatnot for years now. So at most, there will be some shifting of votes to other (more extreme) right wing parties.

 

The main effect (if, indeed, there will be one) would be with regard to voters labeled as undecided. A recent poll suggests that even the AG's decision, regardless of how it pans out, translates into the new center party challenging Netanyahu making considerable gains and widening the gap. Granted, polls are polls and these are early stages of the election campaign.

 

Next issue relates to forming coalitions. So far, statements from various parties regrading cooperation with Netanyahu or his rival post-elections are pretty much as expected. Being politics, none of these is written in stone, but I think it would be hard for some to go back on their words. Generally speaking, it would still be easier for Netanyahu to form a coalition (if a narrow and unstable one).

 

But this is where the previous point comes into play. More votes to major/larger parties imply smaller ones could have trouble making the electoral threshold. There are currently about half a dozen parties (from either side of the political divide) which might be effected. How the political landscape may look under such conditions is a good question. Predictions either based on current political strength or disregarding the distinct possibility some parties won't make the cut, ought to be treated carefully.

 

The AG's decision is a preliminary one. Still a long legal way to go. If there would be any meaningful legal action taken it would probably would be mid-end 2020. So Netanyahu's potential coalition partners (if he wins the elections) would have ample opportunities to either bale out or extract political gains.

 

And always good to quote Netanyahu's own words from 2008, directed at the then prime minister, Olmert:

 

"A prime minister who is up to his neck in investigations doesn’t have the moral and the public mandate to make fateful decisions,” he told Channel 2 TV in December 2008. “There is the concern that he might make decisions not according to what is best for the nation, but only for his own political survival.”

 

 

I think the most important point here is that in a democracy, a real democracy, political leaders are not above and beyond the law.

 

We see that in the US, the UK and now Israel. Political leader there can't do as they please unlike in many many other countries.

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, Jerry787 said:

lets hope they trow Nettanyhau in jail anf trow away the keys, at least for the mass murders of the palestinians !

 

And let's hope all terrorists are arrested, tried and if convicted punished appropriately.

[Morch]

3 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

I think the most important point here is that in a democracy, a real democracy, political leaders are not above and beyond the law.

 

We see that in the US, the UK and now Israel. Political leader there can't do as they please unlike in many many other countries.

 

There's hope that this is so. But again, still a preliminary legal step, and a long way to go. Whether or not something would come out of it remains to be seen. Same goes for Netanyahu's (and political partners') reactions to such.

 

There were comment by Netanyahu and his political lackeys, to the effect that the pubic will not accept such charges, if they materialize. That it amounts to a coup. That law enforcement bodies (the AG, courts, police) exceeded their authority. That it's a witch hunt, and that the media is part of it. And so on and so forth. 

 

So it would seem that the sentiment upholding democracy and rule of law over partisan politics isn't quite as entrenched as one may hope.

 

 

 

[JemJem]

At least, there is democracy and decent rule of law (not perfect or close to perfect but quite good by Middle Eastern standards) in Israel.

 

Can you for example imagine Turkish courts trying Erdogan (for any crime) ? Not even one in a million chance.