Opposition suspects Netanyahu of campaigning against pre-charge hearing

The campaign by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dissuade Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit from holding a pre-election hearing in anticipation of possible corruption charges is provoking harsh criticism and mockery from opposition lawmakers.

In a video released on Saturday night, Netanyahu urged Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit not to hold a hearing on the three ongoing corruption cases against him if the process could not be completed before the elections on 9 April.

In the video, the Prime Minister compares the legal proceedings brought against him at the cut of the arm of a man initially found guilty of theft.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

"Listen to this," he says at the beginning of the video. "A man walks on the street of a certain Middle Eastern country with a prosthesis hanging over a bandaged shoulder." People ask him, "What happened? "And he said," I was found guilty of theft in the first instance. "And what happened later?" I was acquitted in the appeal.

"Can anyone give him back the arm? Someone can you get the elections? You do not start hearing before the elections if you can not finish it before the elections. "

Netanyahu is being prosecuted for corruption in three cases: Case 1000, in which he and his family are suspected of receiving illicit gifts from wealthy donors; The 2000 case, which involves talks between him and the owner and publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth, Arnon Mozes, would discuss a favorable blanket for Netanyahu in exchange for the adoption by the prime minister of Japan. legislation aimed at weakening its rival, Israel Hayom, Yedioth; and the case 4000, which concerns an alleged quid pro quo relationship between Netanyahu and the former Bezeq majority shareholder, Shaul Elovich, in which his Walla! The news site reportedly provided Netanyahu and his family with positive coverage in exchange for regulatory benefits for Bezeq.

Netanyahu's latest video provoked the opposition's momentum. Yesh Atid's leader, Yair Lapid, even filmed a counter-video. "Listen to this," he says at the beginning, referring to Netanyahu's video. "The prime minister thinks we are in Saudi Arabia." "Can any one give us back our sanity? If anyone is indicted, he can not stand for election."

Yair Lapid, leader of Yesh Atid (Photo: Yair Sagi)

The Labor Party also referred to Netanyahu's video. "Listen to that, Bibi," Rev. Swid said, using the Prime Minister's nickname. "This is not a" certain Middle Eastern country, "where the leader dictates to the judicial system how to act.Nobody asked you when you think the hearing should take place."

Meretz leader Tamar Zandberg also responded to the prime minister: "Netanyahu, calm down, no one will let go of your arm, just for corruption, you're sent to prison."

Head of Meretz Tamar Zandberg (Photo: Amit Shabi)

MP Michal Rozin, also from Meretz, said: "Whoever calls early elections because he thinks that it helps him legally can not complain about a hearing before the elections. Do not threaten us. "

"The prime minister's presidency is not attached to Netanyahu's body and the amputation will not be operated, but during an election," said Hatnua chief Tzipi Livni. "An election in which the public can decide the Prime Minister that he wants to the presidency.It is appropriate that this audience hear what the Attorney General has to say."

Law enforcement officials also criticized the prime minister. A senior official said in a private conversation that his recent comments "are intended to influence the decision of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, to further undermine public confidence in the repressive systems and to present the debates." ") as a political advance before the elections".

"We are very concerned about the delegitimation we are undergoing, which is destroying public confidence in the justice system," said the official.

Excerpt from Netanyahu's video: "You do not start a hearing before the elections if you can not finish before the elections."

A statement on behalf of the prime minister said Saturday night that "Something is wrong." The hearing makes a decision on a case involving public officials, from the moment the police investigation is over, is 18 months in case 4000, it takes less than 18 days (…) there has not been so much escaping in the history of Israeli justice, and perhaps also in the history of democratic nations. "

Netanyahu's video on Saturday night follows another video he published last week in which he stated that "leftist protesters and the media harbaded and exerted inhuman pressure on the Attorney General to He charges at all costs, even when there is nothing (to blame). "

"This pressure is now reaching its peak.They are trying to force the Attorney General to blatantly interfere with the elections by summoning me to an audience, when it is clear that it would not already be possible to finish." this hearing before the elections, "said the president. the prime minister said.

"It is unthinkable that the public hears only the claims of one party and not the answers of the other," he said. "The goal of the left is clear: try to fire the Prime Minister for the help of a drumhead court martial and steal the elections from you, citizens of Israel."

He concluded the video stating, "As one of the Likud members said:" They know that our team is still winning, so they try to pressure the referee for that and ## 147 ## 39, he shoots (Argentine football star Lionel) Messi off the pitch. "