Likud denies report Netanyahu will stay in office even if indicted
"The claim that the prime minister said such things is false because the prime minister has not spoken with anyone about this matter," the Likud statement said.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFUpdated: DECEMBER 27, 2018 11:26Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu listens to Avichai Mandelblit(photo credit: ABIR SULTAN/POOL/VIA REUTERS)
The Likud party released a statement Thursday that reports in Israel Hayom that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not resign even if indicted are false."The claim that the prime minister said such things is false because the prime minister has not spoken with anyone about this matter," the Likud statement said."No one in Likud is threatening the Attorney General," the statement continues. "The threats and pressure to release an indictment against Netanyahu, no matter the cost and no matter the circumstances, comes every day from the Left and the media."The report appeared in the lead article in Israel Hayom, a freely-distributed daily newspaper funded by American-Jewish billionaire Sheldon Adelson and closely allied with Netanyahu, Thursday morning.The article, written by political analyst Matti Tuchfled, claimed that Netanyahu told confidants that he does not believe that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit will dare to indict him during the election campaign, and that even if he does, Netanyahu will not resign.Netanyahu said in a personal conversation that even if an indictment is brought against him during the elections, he is not going anywhere, and the trial will be held during his term as prime minister, according tot he report."The law is clear, even if an indictment is filed against me, I am not resigning," Netanyahu said.In the final version of Israel Hayom published Thursday, sources in the Likud threatened that Mandelblit will be attacked mercilessly if he publishes his decision before the elections.However, an earlier version of the newspaper ascribed the threatening statement to Netanyahu himself.
