Israel: PM Netanyahu charged with corruption

M/S Israel Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit approaching podium, Jerusalem
SOT, Avichai Mandelblit, Israel's Attorney General (Hebrew): "Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has many rights, I worked with him and saw his talent and abilities. I took the decision to indict him with a heavy heart, but with full confidence as I'm committed to the rule of law, to the public interest and to the citizens of Israel. Law enforcement is not a choice. It is not a matter of right or left." *JUMP CUT*
M/S Journalists *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Avichai Mandelblit, Israel's Attorney General (Hebrew): "This is a hard day but also an important one, I will say a few words carefully about the different indictments. The first one is based on the investigation in case 4000. I decided to indict him with taking bribe and breach of trust. As part as a relationship of 'give and take' between the prime minster and the owner of Bezek company and then online news outlet 'Walla', Shaul Alovich and his wife."
M/S Journalists *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Avichai Mandelblit, Israel's Attorney General (Hebrew): "The second indictment is based on the investigation in case 2000, in this conviction I decided to indict him with breach of trust. As he was discussing about a corrupted offer he got the owner of 'Yedioth Ahronoth' group Noni Mpzes. In this talk, Mozes said he will change the coverage of Netanyahu in the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth and YNET, as far as changing the direction of the coverage. In return, the prime minster will work to pass a law the will limit the power of the competing newspaper Israel Today, that will benefit Mozes hugely."
M/S Journalists *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Avichai Mandelblit, Israel's Attorney General (Hebrew): "The third indictment is based on the investigation in case 1000. In this conviction, I decided to indict him with breach of trust. Because for years the Prime Minster and his wife received cigars and champagne bottles in a 'line of supply' to the worth of hundreds of thousands of NIS (Israeli new shekels) from the businessmen Arnon Milchen and James Parker."
M/S Journalists *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Avichai Mandelblit, Israel's Attorney General (Hebrew): "The decision I took of indictment in those three cases against the Prime Minster was taken only following the evidence we had and according to the law. Nothing else affected my decision."
SOT, Avichai Mandelblit, Israel's Attorney General (Hebrew): "This way it is my duty according to the law to indict him. It is not a choice but a must. This is the case of any citizen, also in this case." *JUMP CUT*
M/S Journalists *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Tal Werber, Justice Minstry lawyer: "Good evening. Earlier today, Israel's Attorney General, Doctor Avichai Mandelblit, issued his decision to indict Prime Minister Netanyahu for the following offences: In case 4000, for the offence of taking a bribe and fraud, and breach of trust. In cases 1000 and 2000 for the offences of fraud and breach of trust. These offences were all committed while Mr Netanyahu held the office of Prime Minister and Minister of Communication. Thank you."
SCRIPT
Israel's Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyau with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in connection with three separate cases.
The announcement was made at a press conference in Jerusalem on Thursday.
Mandelblit said he made the decision "with a heavy heart", but claimed it was in the public interest. "Law enforcement is not a choice. It is not a matter of right or left," he said.
Netanyahu is accused of accepting gifts from businessmen in exchange for favourable press coverage.
The Israeli prime minister denies the charges and said they were part of a political 'witch-hunt' to remove him from power. He has insisted he will not resign and is not legally obliged to do so.
Netanyahu is charged in connection with three cases - known as Case 1,000, Case 2,000, and Case 4,000.
Case 1,00: The prime minister is alleged to have received expensive gifts from a friend in exchange for favours.
Case 2000: Netanyahu is accused of striking a deal with a publisher of major newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth in return for favourable coverage.
Case 4,000: This is considered the most serious of the three, as Netanyahu is charged with bribery, as well as fraud and breach of trust. He is accused of promoting regulatory decisions that benefitted a leading telecommunications company (Bezeq) in exchange for positive news coverage from one of its websites.