Thread by @Ostrov_A

What a sad day for #Israeli democracy.

Never has there been an act of political interference on such scale, that has the potential to truly rupture the very foundations of our society.

A #THREAD of PM @netanyahu indictment 👇👇👇

@netanyahu 1. “Considering indicting”? Really? Seriously? How weak, pathetic.

If the AG was so confident, he should’ve have just issued the indictment.

@netanyahu 2. But 40 days out from election to say you will at some stage - maybe - indict, pending a hearing in the future *after* the election? What sort of a reckless political malfeasance is that?

@netanyahu 3. As a lawyer, I have an unwavering belief in the sacrosanct principle of the Rule of Law, including the fact that no one, not even a Prime Minister is above that.

@netanyahu 4. But it is difficult to look at this as anything but seeking to circumvent the election process, by trying to ouster the sitting Prime Minister because you were unable to defeat him in fair and open elections.

@netanyahu 5. As Prof. Alan Dershowitz said: "To bring down a duly elected prime minister on the basis of an expansive and unprecedented application of a broad and expandable criminal statute endangers democracy."

This would be like opening up a pandora’s box on crack. Where does it end?

@netanyahu 6. I am not going to comment on the specific charges themselves. I have not seen the full evidence, though there are many questions that are unanswered and the allegations presented, untested.

@netanyahu 7. It is also entirely possible that following the indictment hearing, the AG might amend or drop the charges. But then? At what price? Was it worth putting a dagger through the heart of Israel’s democracy?

@netanyahu 8. My biggest grievance here is that if the AG was so confident of the cases, he should’ve charged the Prime Minister here and now, or not made any decision at all pending a proper hearing.

@netanyahu 9. But this half-hearted decision will only serve to taint this very election and undermine our entire democratic process.

@netanyahu 10. I will end with one final thought, especially for all those calling for the guillotine, in our system of justice, EVERYONE is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, that includes the Prime Minister @netanyahu!

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