BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister was questioned by police for three hours concerning allegations that he accepted illegal gifts from businessmen.

Police arrived at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem yesterday evening, after Attorney General Avichai Mandleblit ordered a criminal investigation last week. A statement from Mandelblit’s office last night confirmed that Netanyahu had been questioned “on suspicion of receiving improper benefits from businessmen”.

The statement did not reveal details of the cases, but media reports suggest they are centred around one Israeli-based figure and one foreign businessman. Haaretz has suggested that Ronald Lauder, the heir to Estee Lauder cosmetics is one of the two businessmen. Lauder was summoned for police questioning on a visit to Israel in September.

Mandelblit explained that allegations against Netanyahu in four other cases will not be pursued. They include allegations that he received unauthorised campaign funds for the 2009 general election, that he had double-billed for flights abroad paid by foreign figures, and that he had tampered with the results of the 2009 Likud primaries.

Netanyahu denies the allegations and told opponents on Sunday to “wait with the celebrations; don’t hurry”. Netanyahu repeated the mantra he has maintained regarding all allegations against him and his family, saying: “There will be nothing because there is nothing”. He added: “Nothing will come [of this investigation] and you will continue to spew out hot air.”

Commenting on the criminal investigation, Zionist Union head and opposition leader Isaac Herzog said: “This is a tough day for Israel, with a prime minister under investigation… The basic thing is that this is a state of the rule of law.”

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, whose party has recently overtaken Netanyahu’s Likud in polls, said that “Netanyahu has the presumption of innocence” and called for a quick investigation “for the sake of the country”. Referring to former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s corruption conviction, Lapid warned: “If two prime ministers go down because of corruption, it will be difficult to restore people’s trust in politics.”