Israeli Police Begin Interrogation of Netanyahu on Suspicion of Financial Impropriety

Israeli police have begun interrogating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on suspicion of receiving financial benefits from businessmen and other corruption allegations that have not yet been made public, starting Monday evening, January 2. According to Israeli media, the Lahav 433 unit, a special anti-corruption division of the Israeli police, sent a team of 'experienced interrogators' to Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem to initiate the investigation. The Prime Minister's office has stated that Netanyahu will fully cooperate and has adjusted his work schedule to allow for lengthy interrogation sessions. Israeli television networks report that large black curtains have been drawn over the entrance to the alley where the Prime Minister's office is located to shield the entry of investigators from the curiosity of numerous journalists on site. Simultaneously, large black curtains have also covered the street-facing windows of the Prime Minister's office in 'Paris Square' in central Jerusalem to prevent photographers and videographers from filming the rooms. Israeli media say the interrogation revolves around the potential charge of receiving 'gifts' and 'betraying the oath of loyalty' as a government employee. According to these reports, there are two potential cases, and the police have stated that many details have been secretly investigated in recent months both in Israel and abroad. Meanwhile, the Israeli prosecution announced that an official statement will be issued at the end of the first round of questioning. Channel One of Israeli television has reported that the lead investigator on the Prime Minister's case is named Cyrus Barnor, who has an Iranian name and is of Iranian-Jewish descent. Cyrus Barnor, 50, has 20 years of experience in the Israeli police, has been the head of the international crime unit, and has recently been promoted to the commander of the national anti-corruption investigation unit. At this stage, no formal charges have been brought against the Prime Minister, but he has been informed that his responses will be recorded under 'legal warning'; if Netanyahu's answers do not satisfy the investigators, this could lead to formal charges in collaboration with the prosecution and police. Just hours before the interrogation began, Netanyahu sarcastically told the Likud party faction in the Knesset that political rivals should 'hold off on ordering a tailored suit for the Prime Minister.' Netanyahu reiterated that 'nothing will happen because there is nothing.' He accused Israeli media of creating a celebratory atmosphere that had not been felt for a long time in Israeli television studios. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister stated that 'the celebrations of rivals are premature.' Israeli media critical of Netanyahu have described the start of the interrogation of a Prime Minister who seemed very difficult to remove from political paths as a 'political earthquake.' However, Netanyahu's supporters argue that politicians and critical media have failed to prevent Netanyahu's premiership in the last three elections and are now initiating this interrogation through intense pressure on the prosecution. Netanyahu's supporters in the Knesset, who are in the majority, have stated that they will present a draft bill to the parliament that would postpone any interrogation of him until after his premiership. Benjamin Netanyahu served as Prime Minister once in the 1990s but has won three additional elections since 2009 and has remained in this position longer than any other Prime Minister in Israel. Interrogating the highest-ranking officials in Israel is a historical practice; although interrogations of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon over allegations of receiving financial benefits from a foreign businessman did not lead anywhere, Ehud Olmert, Sharon's successor, ended his premiership in 2008 due to financial allegations. Olmert was sentenced to 19 months in prison for involvement in construction cases when he was the mayor of Jerusalem years before his premiership and is still imprisoned. The start of police interrogation of Mr. Netanyahu is seen by his supporters as 'bad luck' because after years of tense relations with Barack Obama, Donald Trump, who has a long-standing friendship with Mr. Netanyahu, will take power in the U.S. on February 1. In recent days, Netanyahu has emphasized that he is 'eagerly' awaiting Trump's inauguration to begin a 'golden era of cooperation between the two countries.'