NETANYAHU SAYS HE HAS BEEN FRAMED AS CORRUPTION TRIAL STARTS

SOURCE: REUTERS

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday became the first serving Israeli prime minister to go on trial, proclaiming his innocence in the corridor before walking into court to face charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

The trial came a week after Israel’s longest-serving leader was sworn in to a record fifth term, demonstrating his knack for survival by securing an unexpected power-sharing deal with his main opponent after three inconclusive elections in a year. He says the cases against him are a left-wing plot to unseat him.

Netanyahu, 70, was indicted in November in cases involving gifts from millionaire friends and for allegedly seeking regulatory favours for media tycoons in return for favourable coverage.

He appeared at Jerusalem District Court flanked by a clutch of cabinet ministers from his right-wing Likud party.

In the courtroom, Netanyahu and the judges wore face masks because of the coronavirus crisis. One of the judges asked Netanyahu whether he had read and understood the indictment. He replied: “Yes, your Honour.”

The hearing lasted an hour. The court excused Netanyahu from appearing in person at the next hearing, set for July 19. Israeli analysts say the trial could last months or even years.

Before the hearing, Netanyahu appealed to public opinion, taking off his mask to address television cameras in the courthouse hallway.

“These investigations were tainted and stitched-up from the first moment,” Netanyahu said. “I am appearing here today, as your prime minister, standing tall and with head high,” he said.

In a statement, Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit said prosecutors “will continue to conduct themselves without fear, even given the preposterous attempt - which should be rejected out of hand - to ascribe ulterior motives to law-enforcement authorities”.

Supporters, some in masks, rallied outside the East Jerusalem building, their chants of “Bibi, King of Israel”, using his nickname, audible in the courthouse. One supporter’s sign read: “You’ll never walk alone”. Many waved blue-and-white Israeli flags.


Slideshow (3 Images)

Anti-Netanyahu demonstrators gathered outside his residence in central Jerusalem holding up a banner reading “Crime Minister,” a slogan that also appeared on some face masks.

Netanyahu, in power now for 11 straight years plus three in the 1990s, kept the position of prime minister by securing the power-sharing deal last month with his main opponent, the centrist former general Benny Gantz.

The pact also opens the way for Netanyahu to proceed towards a pledged annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank, land that Palestinians envisage as part of a future independent state.

Bribery charges carry a sentence of up to 10 years in jail and/or a fine. Fraud and breach of trust carry a prison sentence of up to three years.

Writing by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Dan Williams and Peter Graff

Views: 29

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by stormtruther on May 25, 2020 at 7:58pm

lol

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

Doc Vega, Chris of the family Masters, cheeki kea and 3 more were featured

 

Latest Activity

steve posted a blog post
54 minutes ago
Gregory Eckrich posted a status
"All in favor of the GESARA plan for wold peace stand up and cheer!"
1 hour ago
Doc Vega posted photos
3 hours ago
Doc Vega posted blog posts
3 hours ago
Less Prone favorited steve's blog post pedo joe gets shown and told how the whole damn country feels about his creepy ass
5 hours ago
Less Prone posted a status
5 hours ago
Doc Vega's 5 blog posts were featured
5 hours ago
Kenneth McClenton's blog post was featured
5 hours ago
steve's 2 blog posts were featured
6 hours ago
Burbia's blog post was featured

Sack Town Sounds Off At City Council Meeting

SACRAMENTO CITY COUNCIL JEWISH MAYOR LOSES HIS SHITCorollaVirus™LivesMatter…See More
6 hours ago
Less Prone commented on steve's blog post Where the WILD THINGS ARE IMPORTED and they bring nothing but beggars and violence
"The seeds of chaos have been sown. After a while Europe burns down. Add the WWIII to that. A fine…"
6 hours ago
FREEDOMROX's blog post was featured

PNAC told us what they were going to do... PNAC Sept. 11, 2000

The Project for a New American Century is a Think Tank that was run in the 90's and early 2000's…See More
6 hours ago
MAC posted a video

Central Bank Digital Currency Gets BANNED by House GOP!!!

Learn how to protect your life savings from inflation and an irresponsiblegovernment, with Gold and Silver. Go to https://TurleyTalksLikesGold.com #ad #spon...
6 hours ago
Kenneth McClenton posted a blog post
7 hours ago
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's blog post Vaccines and sudden infant death: An analysis of the VAERS database 1990–2019 and review of the medical literature
"Another rare item regarding the SBS saga turned up on a local leftist type outlet a couple of…"
18 hours ago
Less Prone commented on steve's blog post After 16 Shootings at High School Football Games in 2023, NBC News Refuses to Point Out the Common Denominator Between All the Violence - Black People Pulling the Trigger
"*Teens* intentionally struck and killed a cyclist. Yo man!"
20 hours ago
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's blog post Vaccines and sudden infant death: An analysis of the VAERS database 1990–2019 and review of the medical literature
"Point of the day steve you are on to it. The "lucky" parents will have the untimely death…"
20 hours ago
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's video
yesterday
steve posted blog posts
yesterday
steve commented on cheeki kea's blog post Vaccines and sudden infant death: An analysis of the VAERS database 1990–2019 and review of the medical literature
"WE NEED A REPORT OF HOW MANY HEARTBROKEN GRIEVING PARENTS WERE ACCUSED OF MURDERING THEIR CHILDREN…"
yesterday

© 2023   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted