Dichter says he’ll run for leadership of Likud, country

Likud lawmaker Avi Dichter said Saturday he planned to run for party leadership in the next primaries, adding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could no longer perform as required while under investigation.

“Whoever tells you the prime minister can act without disruption and distraction while being investigated, is not telling the truth. This matter is very problematic for someone running the country,” the former head of the Shin Bet security agency said at a cultural event in Modiin.

“I am here to lead and will undoubtedly run for Likud leadership and the premiership,” Dichter said, citing his experience and personality as qualifying factors.

“I’m already preparing for the next primaries, even if they are against Netanyahu.”

The prime minister is being investigated in two separate cases. The first, known as “Case 1000,” is looking into claims that he and his family received luxury gifts worth hundreds of thousands of shekels from businessmen, among them Israeli Hollywood movie producer Arnon Milchan.

A second probe, given the police moniker of “Case 2000,” deals with allegations that Netanyahu and the publisher of the mass daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Arnon Mozes, negotiated an illicit quid pro quo deal that would have seen the prime minister pass legislation to hamper a rival daily in return for more favorable coverage from Yedioth.

Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing, and has accused the “leftist, Bolshevik” media of pressing the attorney general to indict him.