BICOM

Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit dismissed media reports of a rift between state prosecutors and the police about the 16-month investigation into corruption charges against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Wednesday, Israel’s Channel 2 news reported a disagreement between the Attorney General’s Office and the police regarding the quality of the evidence in the case.

Speaking at an event organised by the Friends of Tel Aviv University and the magazine Liberal yesterday, Mandelblit said the state prosecutor’s “goal is of paramount importance: to ensure the rule of law in the State of Israel. Turning every stone to discover and make public the truth”.

“These investigations were done according to the book, precisely in the way you would expect of law enforcement authorities handling a case like this – professionally, thoroughly, resourcefully, smartly, with a determination to establish the truth,” the Attorney General said. He stressed the “close, fruitful cooperation” between police and prosecutors, which included “dozens of joint meetings” and recommended “being very sceptical about reports of rifts and tension between the various law enforcement bodies”.

Mandelblit refused to commit to any timeline for deciding Netanyahu’s fate, saying: “I don’t know at this time when, at the end of the day, the decision will taken [on whether to press charges]. I do know that the decision will only be taken on the basis of the evidence and justice. I stress once again: only the evidence will speak. Only the law will determine — no other external considerations or body will influence the decision.”

On Tuesday the Israeli police announced that there is sufficient evidence to charge Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in two cases against him. Shortly after, Israeli media reported criticism against the police by an unnamed state prosecution official who reportedly said the recommendations were put together hastily.

Initially, Mandelblit refused to confirm or deny the reports about criticisms of the police, but yesterday he issued a statement: “The police statement was issued on Tuesday in accordance with the instructions of the attorney general, this was done with my authorisation and with the authorisation of the state attorney, as is required and accepted.”