Prosecution in Israel lines up over 300 witnesses in Netanyahu case

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An indictment submitted to Israel’s
parliament on Monday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
names more than 300 prosecution witnesses, including wealthy
friends and former aides, in three graft cases against him.

By formally sending the indictment to the legislature, after
announcing charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud on Nov.
21, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit set the clock ticking on a
30-day period in which Netanyahu can seek parliamentary immunity
from prosecution.

Such protection seems unlikely, with Israeli politics in
disarray after inconclusive elections in April and September and
the failure of Netanyahu and his main challenger, Benny Gantz, to
secure a ruling majority in the legislature.

Netanyahu, in office for the past decade, has denied any
wrongdoing, saying he is a victim of an attempted “coup” waged by
legal authorities trying to unseat a popular right-wing leader.

As prime minister, he is under no legal obligation to resign
after being charged. No date has been set for the opening of the
trial, with three judges presiding in Jerusalem District Court.

The indictment submitted to parliament listed 333 witnesses for
the prosecution. Legal experts said the long roster meant
proceedings could go on for years.

They include U.S. casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and his wife
Miriam, Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, Australian billionaire
James Packer and retired Israeli security chiefs, and several
former aides who will be state witnesses against him.

Netanyahu poured scorn on the length of the witness list.

“When an accusation is true, you don’t need 333 witnesses,” he
wrote on Twitter. “When the accusation is untrue, not even 333
witnesses will help.”

TALKS DEADLOCKED
In one case, Netanyahu is suspected of wrongfully requesting and
accepting expensive gifts, including champagne and cigars, from
Milchan and Packer. Neither has been charged with any
wrongdoing.

Another case focuses on allegations that Netanyahu promised the
owner of Israel’s best-selling newspaper to push for regulations on
its main competitor, owned by Adelson.

Netanyahu also is accused of granting regulatory favors worth
about 1.8 billion shekels ($500 million) to Bezeq Telecom Israel
(BEZQ.TA) in return for positive coverage on a website owned by its
former chairman.

Talks between Netanyahu’s Likud and Gantz’s centrist Blue and
White party on a “national unity” government are deadlocked.

If no agreement is reached within 10 days – the end of a
three-week period in which legislators can nominate a candidate to
try to form a government – Israel is likely to hold a new
election.