News / Palestine

Report: Israel's former premier mulls plea bargain in corruption case to avoid jail, exclusion from politics

Sunday, 16 January 2022 10:27 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 16 January 2022 10:27 PM ]

Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) arrives for a court hearing on corruption charges, on November 16, 2021 in al-Quds. (Photo by AFP)

Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly negotiating a plea bargain to end his high-profile corruption trial and avoid spending time behind the bars by having his jail term reduced to community service.

A source informed of the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity on Sunday, was quoted by Reuters as saying that Netanyahu was discussing a deal with the regime's attorney general Avichai Mandelblit, under which he would plead guilty to reduced charges to have his jail term commuted to community service.

The 72-year-old was indicted in November 2019 in at least three cases of alleged bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. His trial began in May 2020, but he was excused from subsequent hearings as lawyers demanded more time for prosecution evidence review. The prosecution has assembled more than 300 witnesses to back its allegations.

As the most serious case of charges, Netanyahu has been accused of offering regulatory favors for media executives worth about $500 million in return for securing positive press coverage that helped him win re-election twice.

In lesser charges of fraud and breach of trust, he is indicted for negotiating a deal with the owner of the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth for better coverage. In return, the prime minister allegedly promoted legislation that would slow the growth of a rival newspaper.

And, Netanyahu and his wife have been charged with receiving expensive jewelry, cigars, and champagne as gifts from a Hollywood producer and an Australian billionaire.

Wife of Israeli premier goes on trial for fraud

Workers at the Netanyahu residence have already complained of cruel treatment at the hands of Sara Netanyahu.

Netanyahu, now the opposition chief at the Israeli parliament, has denied all accusations and mocked the size of the witness list.

Talks with Mandelblit have, meanwhile, snagged over Netanyahu's demand to be spared a conviction carrying a "moral turpitude" clause, which under the regime's law would force him to quit politics for years, said the source.

Netanyahu has vowed to unseat his successor Naftali Bennett.

The ex-premier's Likud Party failed to form a new government last year in part because kindred parties refused to join Netanyahu, citing the ongoing trial.