Netanyahu Denies Corruption
Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew both barbs and praise Wednesday for a televised denial of corruption charges.
However, one legal commentator said only the “dry facts” will determine if the fiery leader ends up in jail.
Netanyahu angrily denied any wrongdoing in Tuesday night's broadcast, aired hours after police urged the attorney general to indict him and his wife on corruption charges.
Having skirted far more serious corruption charges while still in office, Netanyahu now may face trial over an unpaid bill for home repairs, and official gifts including a gold letter-opener from Vice President Al Gore, reports CBS News Correspondent Jesse Schulman for CBSNews.com.
Police have recommended Netanyahu be indicted on charges including fraud, misuse of government funds and obstruction of justice, for allegedly hindering the months-long investigation. Under Israeli law it is now up to the country's attorney general to decide whether charges will be filed.
Observers here say Netanyahu is likely to be indicted. Charges of influence-peddling while Netanyahu was in office were quashed, because Israel's attorney general felt the evidence was insufficient to justify indicting a sitting prime minister.
The current allegations, though relatively minor, are also more clear-cut, and supported by a witness who's turned "state's evidence" — a contractor who allegedly did unpaid work for the Netanyahu family, in return for a promise of government work.
Netanyahu's wife, Sara, could also face charges of theft. Mrs. Netanyahu, controversial for a supposedly fierce temper, allegedly helped her husband keep official gifts the couple received while in office. Under law, the gifts should have been handed over to the State.
Netanyahu, who was trounced in May 1999 elections, has been under investigation for the past eight months on suspicions he accepted bribes, tried to misuse state funds and illegally kept gifts worth thousands of dollars.
During Tuesday night's 50-minute interview, Netanyahu, famed during his tenure as prime minister for his media savvy, used props and dramatic pauses to emphasize his innocence and to accuse police of a witch hunt. He mentioned his son and recently deceased mother and scoffed: “The whole thing is ridiculous.”
Israeli newspapers Wednesday were full of commentary marveling at what was described by many as an all-out fight for political survival.
“It was an emotional, ingenious performance, in which Netanyahu diverted attention from the question,” Hannah Kim wrote in the respected Haaretz daily.
But Moshe Negbi, a prominent legal commentator, wrote that Netanyahu's dramatic appeal would not be enough to save him. “Only the dry facts of the case -- and not the infamous television rhetoric of the former prime minister -- will speak,” Negbi wrote in Maariv.
Apparently relihing the underdog role, Netanyahu, 50, said he was being persecuted by the political establishment because of his hard-line views. Shlomo Ben-Ami, the police minister, denied the accusation.
“The police did not, do not, and as long as I am responsible for police, will not have a political agenda,” he said.
Police say a seven-month investigation indicated that Netanyahu should be charged with fraud, attempted misuse of state funds, breach of trust and obstruction. The attorney general, Elyakim Rubinstein, will make the final decision on whether to indict. It was unclear how long that process might take.
The case is just one of a series of scandals plaguing Israel's leadership. Prime Minister Ehud Barak and his party are under investigation for violating campaign finance law, police are looking into a large amount of money President Ezer Weizman received from a French millionaire and incitement charges are being considered against a religious leader for calling a Cabinet minister “Satan” and other epithets.
A member of the conservative Likud party, Netanyahu was elected prime minister in 1996. He had virtually disappeared from public life in Israel since being trounced by Barak, a moderate, in the May 1999 elections.
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