Israeli Police Arrest Several Officials Close to Netanyahu

Israeli media reported on Sunday, February 18, that several senior government officials have been arrested in connection with a new investigative case that raises suspicions about the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu. The police have not yet allowed the media to publish the names of those arrested. According to these reports, several former and current senior officials from the Ministry of Communications have been detained for questioning and transferred to the police's anti-corruption unit, while two senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office have also been asked to come in for questioning. Two days prior to this police action, Channel 2 of Israeli television reported that the police had opened a 'Case 4000' against the Prime Minister; this case relates to the time when Mr. Netanyahu held the position of Minister of Communications while also serving as Prime Minister until early summer of this year. Israeli media suggest that there are suspicions that Shaul Elovitch, the owner of the Walla News website, who was also the director-general of the Israeli telecommunications organization Bezeq, may have received favors in exchange for publishing reports favorable to Mr. Netanyahu; several other officials are also suspected of having received benefits based on this suspicion. Channel 2 claims that this case could pose a greater 'danger' to Mr. Netanyahu and senior officials associated with him than Cases 1000 and 2000. The Israeli police opened Case 4000 while recommending to the prosecution last week, after a year of extensive investigations in Israel and several other countries, and after seven interrogations of Mr. Netanyahu and several billionaires who are close friends of his, as well as Arnon Mozes, the owner of Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, that indictments be filed against the Prime Minister in Cases 1000 and 2000. Case 1000 involves receiving approximately $300,000 worth of cigars, champagne, designer suits, jewelry for Sara Netanyahu, the Prime Minister's wife, concert tickets, and stays in luxury hotels for one of Netanyahu's sons from two billionaires named Arnon Milchan and James Packer. Case 2000 raises suspicions of 'collusion' between Mr. Netanyahu and Arnon Mozes, suggesting that the newspaper was supposed to publish articles favorable to the Prime Minister in exchange for Mr. Netanyahu's efforts to undermine the position of the rival newspaper, Israel Hayom. In recent days, Mr. Netanyahu has repeatedly emphasized that the police, under severe pressure from his opponents and political rivals, have requested the prosecution to file charges in the aforementioned cases, but he expresses 'confidence' that the prosecution will not issue an indictment after a fair review of the documents and evidence. Mr. Netanyahu, with this 'confidence' that his government coalition is 'stable,' has traveled to Germany since last Thursday to attend the Munich Security Conference. He has not yet reacted to the police's new action in opening a new case against him and senior officials from the Ministry of Communications. The Israeli police have also been conducting extensive investigations since last year in another case named 'Case 3000,' which involves potential corruption in a large military deal for the purchase of three submarines and four warships for the country's army from the German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp. Mr. Netanyahu is not a suspect in Case 3000, but several senior officials close to him and his lawyer, who is also his cousin, are under extensive investigation. Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition party Yesh Atid and Mr. Netanyahu's main rival for the Prime Minister's position, claims that the investigations in Case 3000 will also reach the Prime Minister himself. Mr. Lapid has told the police that if Mr. Netanyahu's case in Case 1000 goes to court, he is prepared to testify against him; this has somewhat damaged Mr. Lapid's political standing in public opinion. Meanwhile, several recent polls indicate that although the public is shocked by the police's recommendation to the prosecution for Mr. Netanyahu's trial, the majority still believe he is the most qualified politician for the Prime Minister's position. According to the average of these polls, if parliamentary elections were held now, the Likud party would not lose its position and might even gain a few more seats. Avio Drucker, a reporter for Channel 10 of Israeli television, was one of those who, through persistent media follow-up in recent years, led to the initiation of investigations against the Prime Minister in Cases 1000 and 2000. The critical newspaper Haaretz also states that its follow-ups led to the opening of Case 4000 against the Prime Minister. In this context, the opposition has called for Netanyahu's resignation; 'I will emerge from the allegations unscathed.' The Israeli police have called for Netanyahu's trial on charges of 'bribery' and 'breach of trust.' Thousands of Israelis have marched against Netanyahu. The publication of the results of the 'corruption' interrogation of Netanyahu has been declared prohibited. Netanyahu is being interrogated for the fifth time. The Prime Minister of Israel is angry about the leaks regarding the continuation of the interrogation against him.