The Allegations against Israeli PM Netanyahu
Israel's attorney general on Thursday announced his intention to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pending a hearing for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
Here is a look at the cases against the veteran premier, who denies all the allegations:
- Champagne, Cigars -
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said he intends to indict Netanyahu for fraud and breach of trust in what is known as Case 1,000.
It involves allegations Netanyahu and his family received gifts including luxury cigars, champagne and jewelery from wealthy individuals, estimated to be worth about one million shekels (243,000 euros, $277,000), in exchange for financial or personal favors.
According to police, Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan was responsible for some 750,000 shekels-worth of gifts, while the remainder came from Australian billionaire James Packer.
Netanyahu is suspected in return to have sought to help Milchan receive tax benefits that some reports said could have been worth millions of dollars, among other alleged efforts.
Netanyahu allies have argued that there is no problem with receiving gifts from friends. The premier denies having acted inappropriately in exchange.
- Newspaper 'secret deal' -
A second investigation, known as Case 2000, concerns allegations Netanyahu sought a deal with the owner of the Yediot Aharonot newspaper that would have seen it give him more favorable coverage.
In exchange, Netanyahu allegedly raised the possibility of pushing for legislation that would have limited the circulation of Israel Hayom, a free newspaper that is the main rival to Yediot.
Police based their investigation on recordings of meetings between Netanyahu and Yediot's publisher Arnon Moses.
Ari Harow, a former Netanyahu chief of staff, agreed to testify for the state in the case in exchange for leniency.
Netanyahu says that he acted against the legislation concerning Israel Hayom, and dispersed parliament over it despite any behind-the-scenes discussions.
Mandelblit said he intends to indict Netanyahu for fraud and breach of trust in that case.
- More positive coverage? -
The third investigation, known as Case 4,000, is considered the most serious and also relates to alleged attempts to seek positive media coverage through favors.
Mandelblit said that in this case, he intends to indict Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
Netanyahu is alleged to have negotiated with Shaul Elovitch, the controlling shareholder of Israeli telecommunications giant Bezeq, to get positive coverage on his Walla! news site in exchange for policies benefiting Bezeq.
Shlomo Filber, a Netanyahu ally for more than 20 years and a former communications ministry director general, has become a state witness in the case.
He is accused of mediating between Netanyahu and Elovitch and promoting regulatory changes worth millions to Bezeq.
Netanyahu dismisses the allegations, saying he received nothing from Elovitch and that Walla's coverage of him has been negative.
He says experts were in support of arrangements for Bezeq.