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Israel's Netanyahu says he will seek immunity in graft cases


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Israel's Netanyahu says he will seek immunity in graft cases

By Jeffrey Heller

 

2020-01-01T183304Z_1_LYNXMPEG001NY_RTROPTP_4_ISRAEL-POLITICS-NETANYAHU.JPG

Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement to the media in Jerusalem January 1, 2020 REUTERS/ Ronen Zvulun

 

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday he would ask parliament to protect him from prosecution in the three graft cases he faces, a politically-risky move that could delay criminal proceedings against him for months.

 

Netanyahu was indicted in November on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust over allegations he granted state favours worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Israeli media barons in return for gifts and favourable coverage.

 

He denies any wrongdoing, saying he is the victim of a witch hunt by the media and left to oust a popular right-wing leader.

 

A trial cannot get under way once an immunity request is made, and Netanyahu announced the move in a speech on live television just four hours before a deadline for an application was to expire.

 

Netanyahu said in his address that the charges against him were politically motivated and he was entitled to parliament's protection.

 

"In a democracy, only the people decide who will lead them," said Netanyahu, who has been in power consecutively for the past decade and has likened the indictment against him to an attempted coup.

 

Under Israel law, a legislator seeking immunity can do so on numerous grounds that include an argument that the prosecution is not acting in good faith.

 

Had Netanyahu not filed the request by Wednesday's deadline, the indictment against him could have been submitted to a court as early as Sunday, setting proceedings in motion.

 

Amid deep political deadlock, parliament seems unlikely to decide the issue before Israel's March 2 election. Netanyahu will need the support of 61 of its 120 legislators for immunity to be granted, the same majority that eluded him in attempts to form a government after national ballots in April and September.

 

If immunity is ultimately granted - entitling Netanyahu to avoid standing trial as long as he is a member of parliament - - Israel's Supreme Court is empowered to review the decision and strike it down.

 

Netanyahu's immunity request carried political risks, adding more ammunition to challengers who seek to portray him as an autocratic leader who sees himself as above the rule of law and who represents a danger to Israel's democratic and judicial foundations.

 

Responding to Netanyahu's speech, his main rival, Benny Gantz, a former armed forces chief who heads the centrist Blue and White party, said the prime minister was "jeopardising the civic principle upon which we were all educated - that everyone is equal before the law".

 

Recent opinion polls have shown neither Blue and White nor Netanyahu's Likud party are within easy reach of a governing bloc in parliament in an election now two months away.

 

(Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell, Editing by William Maclean)

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-02
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Posted
1 minute ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Now why am I not surprised that you like those three.

Imagine how wonderful life on earth could be without those three disgusting serial liars.

Where did I say that I like those three ?

Just stating facts 

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Posted
Just now, Lungstib said:

And therein lies the problem, that this behaviour is now common and getting more widespread as these leaders abuse their power.

Its always been that way , thats the way the World works

  • Sad 3
Posted
2 hours ago, ezzra said:

You forgot to includes yourself into the equation, in which case you'd win hand down...as you keep relentlessly keep spewing hate garbage just for the sake of showing you know nothing about Israeli politics or is it just for hate sake?...

I can't avoid reading from time to time what Netanyahu tells the press. No wonder Trump and he understand each other...

Posted
3 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I can't avoid reading from time to time what Netanyahu tells the press. No wonder Trump and he understand each other...

Please stop going on about Trump 

Posted
8 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Please stop going on about Trump 

Why?

Trump supports Netanyahu and Israel like no other recent US president. 

Do you think that is irrelevant?

  • Like 1
Posted
Just now, OneMoreFarang said:

Why?

Trump supports Netanyahu and Israel like no other recent US president. 

Do you think that is irrelevant?

Yes , no need to add the Trump angle to every forum thread/

Posted
1 minute ago, sanemax said:

Yes , no need to add the Trump angle to every forum thread/

Not to every thread. Only to the relevant threads.

And US support for Israel is very relevant.

  • Like 2
Posted
5 hours ago, webfact said:

If immunity is ultimately granted - entitling Netanyahu to avoid standing trial as long as he is a member of parliament - - Israel's Supreme Court is empowered to review the decision and strike it down.

Let’s hope they do if it is granted. 

Posted
1 minute ago, Bluespunk said:

You were the first one to mention him in post #5

Just pointing out the left wing political strategy of trying to get their opponents removed from office by using the Courts , so, in this instance Trump is connected because both him , Boris and Net are all being targeted by left wingers  to get them removed from office .

  There is a connection 

Posted
Just now, Bluespunk said:

You feel there is a connection, I don’t - all I see is someone trying to avoid prosecution, but you do, so mention him. 
 

Yet, you complain when others mention the same person where they feel there is a connection. 

Trumps opinion on Net  isnt relevant to this story , although Trump and Boris being targeting by left wingers is indeed relevant because it shows that the charges may be politically motivated, as Net states that they are .

  It shows that the left are going after right wing leaders to get them removed from power by the court system

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