Israelis take part in a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, on February 2, 2017. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
Some 1,500 people assembled at Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square on Thursday, calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign amid multiple police investigations into his affairs on graft suspicions.
The protesters held up signs saying, “Netanyahu resign,” “The king has no clothes” and “Bibi, go home,” referring to the prime minister by his nickname.
Netanyahu is being investigated in two separate corruption cases. As details emerge, the probes have also fueled speculation that, should he be indicted, his governing coalition could collapse, boosting the prospect of new elections. Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing.
In the first case, police are checking whether Netanyahu and his wife Sara received some NIS 400,000-600,000 ($100,000-150,000) in gifts of cigars and fine wines from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan. The couple have reportedly insisted that the sums involved were far lower, and that the gifts were unremarkable since the Milchans are their best friends.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Noni Mozes (composite image: Flash90)
The second case involves the alleged negotiations with the publisher of the Yedioth Aharonoth daily, Arnon Mozes, and focuses on the prime minister’s supposed promise to advance legislation to hobble the Sheldon Adelson-controlled Israel Hayom paper in exchange for more favorable coverage from Yedioth.
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Editionby email and never miss our top stories
An Israeli carrying a sign that says “Bibi go home” takes part in a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, on February 2, 2017. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
The premier is also being investigated for gifts allegedly received from other businessmen. He has been questioned by police three times in the cases.
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
