Popular protest mounts over never-ending police probes against Netanyahu
The police are still short of evidence for a bribes suit against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, even after a third state witness and a second year of probing.
The latest opinion polls attest to two parallel trends on the Israeli street: The prime minister’s right-of-center Likud would come out ahead in a general election today, improving its current 26 seats in the 120-member Knesset to 30 or even 36; and 56 percent don’t trust the law enforcement authorities, i.e. the police, the state prosecution and the courts, including the supreme court.
These trends are growing out of popular outrage over the way the prime minister and his family are being treated by the police and the mainstream media, which refer to them as convicted criminals without benefit of due process. There is a sense that if these authorities are powerful and ruthless enough to persecute the highest in the land – presenting them as guilty before being proven innocent – it could happen to anyone.
Ordinary people are saying they would vote Likud for the first time, although they had never done so before, as a mark of protest – especially after the police performance on Friday, March 2. As the country celebrated Purim with parades, funny costumes and parties, Netanyahu and his wife Sarah were closeted separately for police grilling sessions lasting five hours, during which they were confronted with testimonies by witnesses held at separate facilities. The police spokesman proudly boasted later about their “military-style” operation and leaked word from “unnamed sources” that hundreds of millions of shekels were now known to have changed hands in bribes.
This performance occurred three days before the prime minister was scheduled to sit down with President Donald Trump at the White House and discuss matters of vital importance to national security.
But that was not the end of it. Word that the Netanyahu family’s former spin doctor Nir Hetetz had turned state witness was dropped on the prime minister’s head on the day he and his wife Sarah were received at the White House with great affection and respect. The prime minister retorted: “One or a thousand state witnesses won’t change the fact that I have nothing to hide.”
People were further shocked when television reporting that night relegated the Netanyahu-Trump talks to a minor slot in the newscast and led off with long harangues by “reporters” about how state witness Hefetz had described ugly family scenes between Netanyahu, his wife with a tantrum by their son Yair, over a decision on a security matter by the prime minister. The reporter knew all about it, although the Hefetz testimony was covered by a gag order. Even if this piece of cheap gossip was gospel, people were asking how it supported a criminal case against the prime minister? So what was the point of running it? And couldn’t it wait until Netanyahu had returned home?
Media reporting from “unnamed sources” almost certainly draws on pointed leaks, either from the police probe and the prosecution – for pressure on suspects – or from the lawyers involved in the case to drum up custom. Yet scraps of damaging gossip, smears and speculation are presented in TV newscasts and screaming news headlines day by day as fact. Each time, it is claimed that the police have the last nail for driving into the prime minister’s coffin – and it leads nowhere. On Monday night, one TV reporter went all the way. He announced: “A senior source told me that [the police] had completed Dossier 4000. Bribery equals jail.” (This dossier covers the allegation that Netanyahu gave illicit benefits to Shaul Elovitch, owner of the Bezeq telecom company and the Wallah online news site, for favorable coverage).
The TV presenter then sneered that Netanyahu, who was sitting at that moment in the Oval Office with the US president, was no doubt more preoccupied with the case against him than the subjects of their conversation – yet another “fact” fed to a by now highly skeptical audience.
This skepticism is all the more serious when it extends to the police. If all they have to offer the media are smears and gossip, how solid can their case be? is a common question. Three suspects, former close aides or confidants of the prime minister, have turned state witness – Hefetz claimed he had been held for two weeks in inhuman conditions to break him down – yet the police have so far gathered at the most material for a breach of faith charge, a humiliating letdown for the police after more than a year of serious corruption charges against a sitting prime minister. Their conduct in the case has given rise to a spreading consciousness that something is seriously wrong with law enforcement, if the axiom that no one is above the law in a democratic society can be twisted around to mean that no one is safe from the law.
That is what happened when the filthy left can’t win in elections after elections. They coludes with the leftist media ant relentlessly fabricating lies and spreading roomersin their presuit of toppeling the government. The tactics of the left in Israel is no different then that of the left in the USA. These Fifth Column is being funded by anarchists (unfortunately… Jews) like George Soros and Hollywood. I believe that history will be kinder with both Netanyahu and Trump.
I am suprised that the Israeli Police are taking their time away from bashing Israeli settlers and Charedim to now bash the fairly elected Prime Munister of Israel. Why don”t the Israeli Police finally turn on their leftist controllers in the Israeli Supreme Court that helps Peace Now, Machshom Watch, and Breaking the Silence that help to murder innocent Jews everyday when these so called Anarchists help betray Israeli soldiers and Precious Israeli settlers who are building The Land! The Leftist Supreme Court, The Israeli Political Police, Meretz, Zionist Union, and Lapids Ryssian Spy Party causing rifts between secular and Religious/Chareidi Yesh Atid that cares nothing about Judaism, The Torah, The Jewish People, or The Land Of Israel should get lost! Israel does not gain rather only loses by these Israel defamers and destroyers being allowed to make political and national decisions in the land of Israel!
Apparently, the law thinks that it is above the law. It’s time to demand accountability from police and media. If a government would be treating the opposition as the PM is being treated by police and media, this would be called a police state. Since the police is, however, acting on behalf of the opposition, this is a police state in
opposition. You know what to expect if the police state in opposition would come to power.
It’s very very very sad, in a place where judges are controlled by prosecutors and personal vandettas are above respect. Where media is just bashing the country left and right while giving antisemites more tools to hate us While arguing the pretense that they are doing this to “prevent antisemitism”
2nd temple was destroyed because of “free hate” and I doubt that hate being anywhere close to what we are dealing with right now.
If Arab world wants to destroy Israel it’s very easy they just have to stop being our enemies and we will take care of our self annihiliation
Groundhog Day.
“Groundhog Day.”
Ham dinner day.
A thousand bolts of lightening hit the Supreme Court building when all the corrupt judges are gathered together.
The “authorities” have had more than enough time and expended resources – in order to get enough evidence to lay charges that would lead to a conviction. They have not succeeded, in this regard but have certainly have created, along with the media, an atmosphere of significant innuendo and vilification that has been pouring over Netanyahu. I am not condoning or pardoning criminal behavior, but this circus must stop for the good of the country. This treatment is incredibly striking in similarity to what has been visited upon President Trump. No longer the realm of ‘conspiracy theories” – I am totally convinced that there IS an international cabal that is intent upon globalized power, and these forces are just as deadly as any external, military threat.
@ ScottM.
You are correct, beyond a shadow of a doubt. Remember when Obama poured millions of dollars into influencing Israeli elections AWAY from Netanyahu (talk about “collusion” and foreign interference in election!!)? Even if it’s not a premeditated and coordinated cabal, it is clear to see nowadays that like calls to like and that there is a profound, rapidly accelerating process of differentiation occurring.
It was foretold that the generation preceding Moshiach’s arrival would be one that is either “entirely meritorious or entirely blameworthy” – a historically very puzzling concept to grasp. But amazingly, we are seeing the outlines of just that scenario beginning to emerge.
Take heart, the signs are clear as the rays of sunlight breaking through obscuring clouds; history will unfold precisely as has been foretold. Just be sure to be on the right side!
Had Netanyahu stayed with Bain, he would be a multi-millionnairetoday. He is a Patriot and has done a phenominal job for Israel. He should call an election, run with Ayelet Shaked as his deputy PM and sweep the board, after which he ought to sort out the SC and all the structures they built to obstruct governance by the elected governmenys
So basically, Netanyahu faces the exact same situation from Israeli media and law enforcement that Trump faces in the US. Progressives have taken the gloves off and anything is fair game; there is no cost too high to them, in their quest to take down their political opponents. It’s a very, VERY familiar story to those of us in the U.S.
Liberal members of the media are the same. Whether they live in Israel or the US. They are the same cancer.
Time for the people to rise up and vote for the nation and their own protection.
Eventually, (soon) it will be determined, that a “creeping” coup d’etat against the Right government, sponsored by the leftist media, foreign elements, the Police and ironically, even the Charedim will challenge the very existence of the Jewish state !
@ Yosef,
How do you figure “the Charedim” are involved in this? The liberal left lunatics are the natural sworn enemies of, and thus represent the greatest threat by far, to Charedim!
There should be immunity for the prime minister against prosecution and criminal interrogation. After his term he can be slaughtered at court for all the stuff accumulated in his time of service.
This would help to free the mind af any prime minister not just Bibi to concentrate on his duty for the country.
If he is not in charge any more he can cincentrate on his defense at court.
this should be law as we need a strong prime minister without a gang of coyotes biting his legs.
I do not know if B Netanyahu, The Prime Minister of Israel, is guilty or innocent of the corruption charges.
What I do know is that for the last 6-8 years B. Netanyahu has watched while over 1 million civilians died within less than an hour drive from Israel’s border and did absolutely nothing to stop it. Growing up as a child I could not understand how the world just watched while millions of civilians were killed during world war 2. Now seeing how the world is just watching while millions of Syrians civilians are being Gassed to death. I am coming to the realization that the Holocaust against the Jews during World War 2, is just one act of many that some human beings inflict on others while so many others who can put a stop to it choose not to.
I doubt Ben Gurion or Menachem Begin, would not have acted in some manner to stop this genocide.
Yep, he’s going to jail
The Left rule Israel. Collusion between Prosecution and Judiciary is so rife that if indicted the prosecution has a 98.6% win rate. Highest in OECD. Thats worst than Mexico! Israel laughs at Russia but you are way more screwed in Israel. No one trusts the Judiciary here. Leftist freaks yet no one has the power to override them. Even Ayelet Shaked is finding it near impossible to change that corrupt Supreme Court. Its a disgrace that israelis have voted hard right governments for 15 years and received the same soft left policies as the right can never implement any real change.