Final Day of Bibi’s Pre-Indictment Hearings to Highlight Case 2000

By Staff, Agencies

The fourth and final day of “Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pre-indictment hearings are set to begin on Monday with the third corruption case involving a quid pro quo media scheme set to take the limelight. Netanyahu's attorneys are expected to arrive to the so-called Justice Ministry in al-Quds [Jerusalem] to fend off the allegations.

Netanyahu faces possible indictment in three criminal corruption investigations known as Cases 4000, 1000 and 2000. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit already has recommended that Netanyahu be indicted on fraud, breach of trust and bribery charges.

Case 2000 concerns discussions Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes had over a quid pro quo of positive media for the prime minister in return for Netanyahu weakening Yedioth's main rival newspaper “Israel” Hayom.

The hearing on Sunday focused on Case 1000 which Netanyahu has received expensive gifts worth up to one million shekels from billionaire Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer.

The defense lawyers in Case 1000, Amit Hadad and Yossi Askenazi said shortly before the hearing was due to begin that once the attorney general hears their arguments “there will be no choice but to close the cases.”

The first two hearings focused solely on Case 4000, which involves an alleged plan to ease regulations for telecommunications mogul and Bezeq chief Shaul Elovitch in return for positive coverage on his Walla! news website.

Netanyahu has called the allegations part of a witch hunt, lashing out against the media, police, prosecutors and the justice system.