Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu received backing Sunday morning from Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home), following revelations that the Prime Minister is currently under investigation for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, rather than just improperly receiving gifts as previously believed.
On Thursday, investigators revealed that Netanyahu, who is the subject a number of simultaneous police probes, is suspected of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust – crimes far more severe than the improper receipt of gifts, which police had previously claimed the Prime Minister was under suspicion of having committed.
The disclosure came the same day a Tel Aviv court extended a publication ban to include negotiations between police and former Netanyahu Chief of Staff Ari Harow who turned state's witness after he was accused of conflict of interest in the continued ownership of a private business..
On Friday, Harow agreed to testify in two of the investigations facing the Prime Minister; the so-called “1000” and “2000” scandals. The “1000 scandal” involves claims the Prime Minister was given gifts from a number of wealthy businessmen, while the “2000 scandal” revolves around charges Netanyahu allegedly colluded with Yediot Ahronot publisher Arnon “Nuni” Moses to ban free newspapers – a law targeting the Israel Hayom paper – in exchange for more favorable coverage of the Prime Minister.
Despite the disclosure, however, Education Minister Bennett expressed his support for the Prime Minister, noting that regardless of the investigations, Netanyahu – like all other individuals not yet convicted of a crime – must be presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
“The State of Israel needs stability, and we give our support to this nationalist government and are committed to its continued operation,” wrote Bennett.
“The Prime Minister is presumed innocent, and I hope that the investigation will end without an indictment. I have full faith in law enforcement authorities and the Attorney General, without political pressure or needless demonstrations,” Bennett continued, referencing recent left-wing demonstrations calling upon the Attorney General to issue an indictment against the Prime Minister before the police have submitted their recommendation.