Attorney general says team working hard to complete probes into Netanyahu

Facing questions about the long-running investigations into alleged corruption by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said the legal team working on the cases was doing its best to complete the work as soon as possible.

“That is a very important element and very significant,” Mandelblit told Channel 2 News in an interview broadcast on Thursday night, as he responded to questions about the length of time it is taking to complete the probes. “But not at the expense of professionalism, and not at the expense of searching for the truth, and not at the expense of finding the truth. That is what is most important.”

Mandelblit refused to give any hints as to where the investigations were heading or about their progress.

“I can’t say if there is a direction or there isn’t a direction, this isn’t the time,” he said. “It is very important to do this as quickly as possible. We really are really trying — pressing on the gas pedal, trying to finish the investigation — to get to an outcome and answers, because that is our purpose for the Israeli nation.”

Last month it was reported that police were deepening their investigations into the actions of the prime minister and that he would be summoned soon for questioning in the two investigations against him, known as cases 1000 and 2000.

Case 1000 relates to allegations that Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, received illicit gifts from billionaire benefactors, most notably hundreds of thousands of shekels’ worth of cigars and champagne from the Israeli-born Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan.

Case 2000 involves a suspected illicit quid pro quo deal between Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper publisher Arnon “Noni” Mozes that would have seen the prime minister hobble a rival daily, the Sheldon Adelson-backed Israel Hayom, in return for more favorable coverage from Yedioth.

The prime minister denies any wrongdoing in either case.

Police Chief Roni Alsheich also spoke to Channel 2 News about the investigations and admitted that he had been wrong in the past when he predicted the work would be finished in January.

“Firstly, I was mistaken in what I said,” Alsheich acknowledged. “It was right at the time, (but) an investigation is something that develops.”

He was wary of making another prediction as to when the investigations would be wrapped up: “I won’t say that again so that I won’t need to say ‘I made a mistake.'”

Last month Netanyahu drew criticism after he implied the police chief had been leaking details of the investigations against him.

The charge came in an official statement from Netanyahu, released soon after a TV report asserting that police investigators were expected to summon the prime minister for further questioning.