Corruption investigation explores bribe attempts from Netanyahu
The alleged offense is committed when a person asks for a bribe, even if their request goes unanswered.
By JPOST.COM STAFFPRIME MINISTER Benjamin Netanyahu. Is he a victim of unfair press?(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
New details in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption investigation include attempts to receive a bribe, Channel 2 reported Friday.The alleged offense is committed when a person asks for a bribe, even if their request goes unanswered.It was also reported that Netanyahu himself tried to obtain the bribe, without using his wife or sons.Netanyahu responded to the allegations in a statement from his office, "Since the victory of Netanyahu in the last election as well as before, people against the prime minister have made great efforts to bring him down with false accusations.""This includes the media and their agents, who have put constant pressure on the police, the prosecution and the attorney general to open a criminal investigation against the prime minister. Their futile claims are baseless and untrue. Again we say: there was nothing, there was nothing, because there is nothing."In August a number of Netanyahu's close associates were called in for questioning by the police special investigations unit Lahav 433.A spokeswoman for Lahav 433 declined to confirm or deny the Channel 10 report.According to the Channel 10 report these associates close to the Prime Minister gave evidence to the police regarding the investigation.The evidence centers on the alleged use of funds of the American Friends of Likud, a not-for-profit American educational organization that connects Likud supporters in the US to the party. Many people involved in the organization contribute to Likud candidates, including Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s former chief of staff, Ari Harow, who was questioned for 14 hours by police in July, once directed the American Friends of Likud, as did another former Netanyahu aide who has been questioned.ELIYAHU KAMISHER contributed to this report.