Israeli police recommend bribery charges for Netanyahu

Police will recommend bribery charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in two cases of alleged corruption, Haaretz reports.

The cases allege that Netanyahu accepted bribes and that he tried to get Israel’s second largest newspaper to give him positive coverage in exchange for damaging a rival paper. {mosads}

It was reported last week that Israel’s police chiefs were in agreement that the prime minister should be indicted on corruption charges. Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who the indictment will be sent to, will ultimately decide whether to indict Netanyahu.

Netanyahu said he expected the police to recommend his indictment, but maintained that the allegations were unfounded and that he believes Mandelblit would not press charges. He has also questioned the integrity of several officials involved in the investigation, including the police commissioner, Haaretz reported.

“The State of Israel is a state of law. The law says that the one to determine whether there is evidence against the prime minister is the attorney general and he consults with the state attorney. The state prosecutor recently said in the Knesset that about half of the police’s recommendations end with nothing,” Netanyahu said earlier this month.

“So do not be nervous. … I am sure that at the end of the day the competent legal bodies will come to one conclusion, to the simple truth: There is nothing,” he added.

Netanyahu has served as prime minister since 2009 and also from 1996-99. He is a top ally of President Trump.

Trump announced the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel last year and has made plans to move the U.S. embassy in the country to Jerusalem.