Netanyahu asks Israeli parliament for immunity from prosecution

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Netanyahu asks Israeli parliament for immunity from prosecution
by Caitlin Yilek
 | January 01, 2020 02:51 PM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the country’s parliament to grant him immunity from prosecution in several corruption cases.

Netanyahu was indicted in November on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. He has denied any wrongdoing.

He tried to downplay the request in a televised statement on New Year’s Day, calling for a “temporary” measure that would grant him immunity for only one term of parliament, according to the New York Times. Netanyahu claimed the potential immunity was meant to prevent “political indictments whose purpose is to distort the will of the people.”

“That’s what happened to me,” he said.

more
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/netanyahu-asks-israeli-parliament-for-immunity-from-prosecution-in-three-criminal-cases

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Last March came after the attorney-general announced a declaration of intent to indict Netanyahu, but the prime minister still did not know the charges; he still had not yet had his formal pre-indictment hearing. It was also before the first election of the past year, when Netanyahu still thought he had a strong chance of forming a coalition.

What nine months, an indictment for bribery, fraud and breach of trust plus two failed elections can do to a man.

The truth is that Netanyahu’s decision to request immunity on Wednesday was not surprising. The whole reason Israel has been stuck in this continuing electoral stalemate has been so Netanyahu can try to avoid a criminal trial. He called an early election in December 2018, to try to preempt the announcement that he will be indicted; he dispersed the Knesset in May to prevent Benny Gantz from getting a chance to form a coalition, leaving him out in the cold; and again, just a few weeks ago, he led Israel to its third election within 11 months.

A formal request for immunity was the next natural step.

More:  https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/The-quest-for-immunity-612918