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Israel's Netanyahu Indicted on Bribery, Fraud, Breach of Trust Charges

Durin Hendricks

   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has led the country for
   13 years, was indicted Thursday by the country's top prosecutor on
   charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in an investigation the
   leader has called an "attempted coup."
   The indictment centers on allegations that the prime minister and his
   wife accepted more than $260,000 worth of jewelry, cigars, champagne
   and other gifts in exchange for political favors. The prime minister is
   also accused of interfering with regulatory bodies and lawmakers on
   behalf of two media companies in exchange for positive news coverage.

   The decision marked the first time in the nation's history that a
   sitting prime minister had faced criminal charges.
   Attorney GeneralAvichaiMandelblitcharged Netanyahu with fraud and
   breach of trust in three cases, and bribery in one case.
   Accusations
   The most damaging charge in the indictments is the accusation that the
   prime minister took bribes to promote regulations worth approximately
   $500 million to Israeli telecommunications company Bezeq.
   The indictment said Netanyahu and telecom magnate ShaulElovitch, whose
   company holds Bezeq, had a relationship "based on a mutual
   understanding that each of them had significant interests that the
   other side had the ability to advance."
   The charges do not mean that Netanyahu, 70, will resign.
   "According to the basic law of the government, a prime minister only
   has to resign after the final verdict has been given," Israeli legal
   expert OrenGazal-Ayalsaid. "We are talking now only about an
   indictment, so according to the terms of the law, he can continue to
   serve legally while being charged and while being tried in court."

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