Bibi’s Lawyers to Meet Attorney-General, to Ask for Delay in Decision

Local Editor

“Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's legal team will meet with Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit on Monday afternoon in a high drama exchange in which they will ask him to postpone his decision on the prime minister's corruption cases until after the April 9 election.

Last Thursday, Mandelblit had already appeared to turn down a direct plea by Netanyahu's lawyers to delay his decision, but he did agree to meet with them.

Indications were that he agreed to meet with them to show respect to the prime minister, but not that he was seriously reconsidering the timing of his decision.

Mandelblit issued a public letter late Thursday following an unusual public letter requesting the delay by Netanyahu’s lawyers on Wednesday.

Although Mandelblit did not and has not formally committed to announcing his decision in the public corruption cases against the prime minister prior to the election, all indications are that he will announce his decision before the evening of February 21. That is the date when all political party lists are expected to be finalized.

Mandelblit’s letter noted that his staff started their final deliberations before Netanyahu called for early elections and that their work would continue uninterrupted.

The attorney-general is expected to announce his intention to indict Netanyahu for bribery in Case 4000 (the Bezeq-Walla! Affair) and breach of public trust in Case 1000 (the Illegal Gifts Affair), but it is still unclear what his decision will be in Case 2000 (the Yediot Aharonot-“Israel” Hayom Affair).

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team