Netanyahu graft investigations in the final stretch, AG says

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said Wednesday that a pair of graft investigations into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were in their final stages and dismissed media reports saying he’s been holding up the probes.

Mandelblit commented on the investigations during a ceremony at the Israel Bar Association in Tel Aviv, defending, as he has in the past, the lengthy period of time police have spent probing the affairs.

“We are in the final stretch of Netanyahu’s investigations,” he said. “There were investigation operations carried out that you haven’t heard about.

“You must remember that a criminal investigation is not a reality show. It is impossible to share with the public at any given moment everything that is going on, because if we did that it would harm the ability to reach the truth,” he continued. “We, and the general public, must allow the Israel Police to investigate in the best and most thorough way to uncover  the truth.”

Every Saturday night for over a year, demonstrations have been held outside Mandelblit’s home in Petah Tikva, alleging that he is stalling in the corruption probes against Netanyahu. They have spawned much bigger anti-corruption rallies, held in Tel Aviv and across the country.

Mandelblit also spoke about media reportage of the investigations and seemed to direct his comments at Hadashot TV news, which last week cited sources close to the attorney general as saying he was indecisive about possible indictments because of the possible backlash he would suffer if the prime minister was acquitted.

“The publications purport to reflect information from the investigations and draw conclusions about the nature of the investigation system,” Mandelblit said. “I will state clearly that they are simply false and incorrect. The same is true of attempts to attribute things to me or to those close to me — they don’t reflect my position or my outlook.”

“We will not be afraid to make tough decisions if necessary,” he added. “It will all be by the book and based on the evidence. So far, dozens of witnesses have been interviewed, investigations were carried out on various continents, an agreement was signed with a significant state witness and many other actions were taken, most of which you haven’t heard about. This work takes time, and it is being done professionally out of consideration of public interest.”

The attorney general also rejected claims that Netanyahu is being given preferential treatment.

“No one is above the law,” he said. “Whether there is a reasonable chance of conviction will be the only criterion in these cases — just as in every other case — not slogans, or tweets, or headlines.”

The investigations into Netanyahu have continued for over year. In so-called Case 1000, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are suspected of receiving 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 Mozes that would have seen the prime minister weaken a rival daily, the Sheldon Adelson-backed Israel Hayom, in return for more favorable coverage from Yedioth.

Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing in both cases.

The prime minister has also been linked indirectly to Case 3000, a large investigation into suspected corruption surrounding the multi-billion shekel purchase of naval vessels and submarines from a German shipbuilder. While Netanyahu has not been named as a suspect, close associates of his, including his personal attorney, have been arrested or questioned.

Last week Hadashot reported that the prime minister will be asked to give testimony in the submarine affair.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.