Police nearing consensus to recommend indicting PM Netanyahu on illicit gifts affair
Discussion involving Police Commissioner Alsheikh, other top police brass shows consensus to recommend indicting PM Netanyahu on illicit gifts affair; Netanyahu publishes video, says, 'There will be recommendation, improper pressures, but conclusion will be that there was nothing.'
Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh met with his organization's senior brass Wednesday evening to discuss providing recommendations on indictment in cases pending against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with seeming consensus forming on recommending charging Netanyahu on the illicit gifts affair, as sufficient evidence exists to indict him for receiving bribes.
The police did, however, appoint a team to examine "holes" still existing in the case, before a recommendation is made to the State Attorney's Office. Police sources said a recommendation may be made as early as next week.
Former head of the police's Investigations and Intelligence Division Meni Yitzhaki, its current head Gadi Siso, Lahav 433 Commander Roni Rittman and chief of the National Unit for Fraud Investigations Koresh Barnur were also present at the meeting with Alsheikh.
As for businessman Arnon Milchan, himself suspected of bribing the prime minister, police is not expected to recommend he be indicted—as he is expected to serve as a witness for the prosecution.
On Case 2000, involving conversations that took place between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth publisher and owner Arnon Mozes, opinions were still split among police's brass, leading them to consult legal advisers to assist in making final recommendations to the prosecution.
As the council of police higher-ups was convening, Prime Minister Netanyahu published a Facebook video in which he said, "There may be recommendations, but there was nothing."
"Many of you are asking what is going to happen," Netanyahu said. "So I'm here to calm you down: there won't be anything, because I know the truth.
"Israel is a law abiding state. The law says that the person tasked with determining whether there is evidence of alleged wrongdoing by the prime minister is the attorney general, and he consults with the state attorney—who himself said in the Knesset recently that roughly half of police recommendations conclude with nothing."
"So don't be nervous," Netanyahu added. "There may be recommendations, or signs saying 'Bibi is guilty until proven innocent' or other improper pressures. But I am certain that at the end of the day, the qualified legal authorities will reach a single conclusion, the simple truth: there is nothing."
Arnon Mozes is the publisher and owner of Yedioth Ahronoth Group, which includes Ynet.
