Benjamin Netanyahu is facing serious charges of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes
India heaved a sigh of relief on Friday after news reports from Israel suggested that authorities investigating Isreali Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who is facing serious charges of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes — will delay their recommendations to indict the leader.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been closely watching the developments, several rallies have hit the streets in the country demanding Netanyahu's resignation in past few weeks. MEA is particularly worried because the charges have come at a time when the Israeli PM is scheduled for a visit to India next month. Quoting senior officials, Israeli Channel 2 reported that police may delay to lodge a formal case by a month or so.
Netanyahu has so far been questioned by the police six times over the past few months. Officials explained that police was yet to complete their investigations, and added that the PM might be summoned for another round of questioning.
The charges may dislodge Netanyahu from office as well as spoil the pitch for Prime Minister Narendra Modi government which is preparing a grand welcome for him. According to the schedule, Netanyahu is expected to land in Ahmedabad on January 14, where he will be received by Modi.
The investigation against the Israeli PM began in January 2017. Since then he had been interrogated and each session has lasted for several hours. A widely circulated newspaper the Jerusalem Post is hinting on a 'political earthquake' in Tel Aviv over the course of next few weeks.
Last week, Netanyahu held a meeting with top Jeish rabbis in Tel Aviv to enlist their support for continuation in power. He said conspiracy was being weaved against him to bring down his 'nationalist' government.
The case against Netanyah , involves International movie tycoon Arnon Milchan, who was questioned in London in September this year. The Jerusalem Post reported that Milchan, " reportedly gave large quantities of cigars and champagne to the prime minister and his wife, Sara." His driver and personal assistant confirmed this in recent testimonies with Channel 10 News reporting that Sara Netanyahu had rejected these claims that she had demanded these "supplies". The police investigation is to determine whether the Israeli Prime Minister in return helped benefit the tycoon in return. Netanyahu has continued to claim that these were exchanges between friends of 20 years, and not bribery or breach of trust.
According to Israeli media Milchan reportedly asked Netanyahu to "promote a project involving Indian billionaire Ratan Tata. It is believed that Israeli investigating authorities met Tata last November, when he visited Tel Aviv to record his statement. Even though the Tata group denied that he was interrogated or he testified before the agencies, they admitted that some members of investigating agencies met him informally to confirm certain facts. "Tata agreed to meet them and two persons, presumed to be members of the agencies, met him at the David Intercontinental at 1530 hrs on November 1st. No IDs were offered," it added.
CHARGES
- Benjamin Netanyahu is facing serious charges of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes.
- The investigating authorities will delay recommendations to indict the leader.
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 "Benjamin Netanyahu")
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