Israeli ‘crime minister’ Netanyahu to be quizzed by police

Rasa - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has earned the nickname “crime minister” by the public for his alleged widespread involvement in unlawful practices, is to attend a police interrogation session in a high-profile corruption case.

News ID: 438207

Date: 12 June 2018 - 22:28

RNA - Netanyahu is to turn up for the session on Tuesday to answer questions regarding damning information provided to the police by a longtime former confidante, who has reportedly reached a deal with the law enforcement to incriminate Netanyahu, Haaretz reported.

In the so-called “Case 4000,” Netanyahu stands accused of favoring the Israeli telephone communications giant Bezeq in exchange for positive coverage on its Walla! portal, one of the most popular among Israelis. He reportedly engaged in the corrupt practice between 2014 and 2017 while he was also occupying the post of the communications minister.

According to Press TV, the Tuesday questioning would use the testimony of Nir Hefetz, Netanyahu’s former ally, as its subject. Hefetz “gave police text messages and incriminating recordings allegedly indicating a quid-pro-quo relationship” between the premier and Bezeq’s boss, Shaul Elovitch, the paper wrote.

Last month, Haaretz revealed comments made in 2015 by Elovitch, in which he had said that he understood Netanyahu “was willing to commit suicide for me,” referring to the duo’s especial relationship.

Also on Tuesday, police are to question two suspects in “Case 2000.” In that case, Netanyahu is accused of helping the Yediot Aharonot newspaper against its competitor Yisrael Hayom likewise in return for favorable coverage of the prime minister.

For many months now, thousands of Israelis have been holding weekly protests against the premier, urging him to resign.

He also faces two other criminal cases.

The “Case 3000” is also looking into potential wrongdoing involving Netanyahu’s personal lawyer and German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp’s local representative. Its focus is an enormous deal for the purchase of naval vessels and submarines from the company.

And in the “Case 1000,” he is suspected of having received gifts from businessmen overseas.

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