PM Netanyahu faces one charge of bribery out of three cases

Attorney general Avihai Mendelblit handed down his rulings Thursday on three corruption charges against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu after the Supreme Court rejected the Likud’s contention that their publication would be “flagrant interference” in Israel’s election in 40 days. The AG recommended indicting the prime minister for bribes in the 4000 case, and the minor charge of breach of trust in the other two, 1000 and 2000 – subject to a hearing Netanyahu present his arguments. In the first, he was accused of asking Shaul Alovich for favorable coverage in the Walla! website which he owns in return for benefits as the CEO of the Bezeq communications company. Netanyahu has flatly denied this charge claiming that he acted according to regulations in the case of Bezeq and the website carried on with its negative reporting without pause.