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Netanyahu hits back at criminal allegations during Knesset question time
Israel’s Prime Minister defended himself against allegations of corruption, which are currently being investigated, during a session in the Knesset yesterday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared before MKs in a recently-established question time session, loosely modelled on Prime Minister’s Questions in the UK House of Commons
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein made clear he would only accept questions relating to government activities and not the investigations he is facing over alleged dealings with prominent businessmen.
However, towards the end of the session, Netanyahu himself addressed the “rumours of contacts” which he termed a “celebration of hypocrisy, a carnival of righteousness”.
He alluded to the investigation over an alleged quid pro quo deal with the publisher of Yediot Ahronot, which apparently would have seen Netanyahu support a bill to limit the circulation of a rival, in return for more positive coverage.
Netanyahu took aim at opposition MKs who supported a bill to ban foreign ownership of Israeli newspapers, such as Israel Hayom, saying that they “came to close the only media outlet that takes a different stance.”
Addressing another case in which he is alleged to have received excessive gifts from businessmen, Netanyahu said: “One rule for Netanyahu and one rule for the rest. It is legal to receive gifts. If they give you presents, they are not your friends, [they say].”
Netanyahu claimed that “the hypocrisy is running wild” and that the “goal is to topple the Likud government under my leadership and in order to do so all means are valid”.
In response, Zionist Union head and opposition leader Isaac Herzog said: “The biggest gift you can give the Israeli people is that you lay down the keys and resign.”
Herzog joked that the alleged gifts of “cigars and champagne have apparently affected you”.
Israeli media reports suggest that two additional police investigations of Netanyahu have now begun, including allegations that a deal to purchase German submarines was influenced by the business interests of Netanyahu’s lawyer.