Likud minister proposes ‘French Law’ to stop corruption probes against sitting PMs

Likud Minister David Amsalem submits his version of the so-called “French Law” that would bar police from investigating a sitting prime minister for corruption allegations.

The move is widely seen as an effort to protect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently being tried in three corruption cases. However, it was not immediately clear if the law could be applied retroactively.

The bill submitted by Amsalem is similar to one he proposed several years ago and would bar an Attorney General from authorizing an investigation into a prime minister unless the charges were related to sexual assault, violent assault, security offenses or drugs.

Explaining the law in the preamble, Amsalem says: “The prime minister of Israel is one of the most complex positions. He has to take fateful decisions that affect the entire population, including diplomatic, security, economic and social decisions. As such he should be freed to focus entirely on this.”

Netanyahu is on trial in three corruption cases. He faces charges of fraud and breach of trust in Case 1000 and in Case 2000, and charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in Case 4000. He denies wrongdoing and says the charges were fabricated in a political coup led by the police and state prosecution.