Thursday, February 28, 2019

ISRAEL LATEST:  ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE EXPECTED TO PUBLISH NETANYAHU INDICTMENT DECISIONS TODAY


Responding to a petition seeking to stop publication of the State Prosecutor's Office decisions on indictments in three separate corruption cases involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the director of petitions says that barring a High Court order publication will go ahead.

Attorney Yossi Fuchs filed a petition yesterday which was joined today by the Likud Party of Mr. Netanyahu.

Expectations are that the decisions will be published today in Cases 1000, 2000 and 4000.

In Case 1000 Netanyahu is alleged to have received some 300-thousand dollars of gifts from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian magnate James Packer.  Gifts like high-priced cigars and champagne.   In exchange, Netanyahu is accused of lobbying for an extension of  the tax holiday for Israelis coming home, asking former US Secretary of State John Kerry to extend Milchan's US visa and helping Milchan invest in Israeli television.

Case 2000 revolves around the notion that Netanyahu sought flattering coverage from one newspaper "Yediot Aharonot" by telling its owner, Arnon Mozes, that he would prevent the growth of a rival newspaper "Israel Hayom" owned by casino magnate and GOP contributor Sheldon Adelson.

Adelson has reportedly told Israeli police that Netanyahu asked him to back away from expanding "Israel Hayom"  Authorities also have recordings of phone conversations between Mozes and Netanyahu obtained from former Chief of Staff Ari Harow's cell phone.   Harow signed a plea deal and is a state witness.

Case 4000 is about Netanyahu allegedly easing regulations on the Bezeq telecommunications company in exchange for its owner Shaul Elovitch giving the Prime Minister positive coverage on his news site "Walla".


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