Netanyahu blames legal persecution for fact that many ministers are facing corruption, criminal charges

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blames persecution from legal authorities for the fact that many of the ministers in his government are facing corruption and criminal investigations.

Netanyahu is asked about the case of allegations surrounding Social Equality Minister May Golan and her associates, who are suspected of fraud, illegally pocketing the ministry’s funds, and other financial crimes. He says he is unfamiliar with the probe and cautions against rushing to judgment.

“I don’t know the case, and I can’t speak about it. Just because someone is accused of something doesn’t mean anything,” he says during his press conference this evening, after being asked if he is concerned about the case or the fact that Golan has refused to report for questioning after police raided her office this week and detained an associate.

“They can accuse you of all sorts of nonsense that has no truth to it,” he says.

“What I can say is this: There is almost not a single minister left who the Attorney General and the State Attorney haven’t decided to indict,” he goes on.

He says he found no such trend of such accusations in previous governments: “I checked — more or less checked — during the time of the previous government, and in this government. There, nothing. Gornisht. Zero. Everyone’s angels.”

“But for us – there’s tens [of investigations.] If a week goes by and it hasn’t happened, wait for the next week — it will be someone else,” he says.

“And it is very possible that this is what’s happening here. But I can’t say that for sure, because I don’t know the case,” he concludes.

Netanyahu himself is on trial for corruption, charges he denies.