Benjamin Netanyahu made history today, becoming the first sitting Israeli prime minister to be indicted on corruption. He is charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases.
@MairavZ explores the consequences: (1/11)
@MairavZ explores the consequences: (1/11)
@MairavZ In the 63-page indictment, Netanyahu is charged with striking deals with media giants in exchange for positive coverage and receiving lavish gifts from Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan in exchange for political favors. (2/11)
aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/e…
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Israel’s attorney general, who has been investigating the cases for months, said on Thursday he made the decision with “a heavy heart, but wholeheartedly,” adding it isn’t an issue of left or right politics. (3/11)
In a Trumpian televised response, Netanyahu portrayed the indictments as an “attempted coup” to overthrow his right-wing government, called for authorities to “investigate the investigators” and attacked the legal process as “contaminated.” (4/11)
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, isn’t legally obligated to resign, and it could take months before legal proceedings move forward. With Israel in a political deadlock after two elections and a third likely in 2020, this is now uncharted legal territory. (5/11)
Netanyahu has 30 days to request immunity from a criminal trial, but the Knesset committee that would normally grant it is currently dormant, as no governing coalition has been formed since the April election. (6/11)
Netanyahu’s main political rival, Benny Gantz, said Netanyahu’s statements today prove he must step down and focus on his legal issues. Israeli politicians in the Blue and White party and to the left have explicitly called on Netanyahu to resign. (7/11)
Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren was quick to condemn Netanyahu and compare him to President Trump. (8/11)
And U.S. Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut pointed out that Netanyahu was on shaky ground even before the indictment: (9/11)
Meanwhile, Israeli politicians who backed Netanyahu as part of his “right-wing bloc” have so far remained quiet. As an Israeli journalist quipped, there are only two ways to remove Netanyahu from the PM residence: with the army or a straitjacket. (10/11)
While Israel’s consensus on Netanyahu might be breaking down, the country’s larger consensus on its crimes of occupation remains – and needs renewed scrutiny in these times. (11/11)
