Most Israelis consider Netanyahu corrupt, but he is still climbing in the polls

But a majority of the public said Netanyahu should quit.

By GIL HOFFMAN, UDI SHAHAM
Updated: FEBRUARY 15, 2018 11:44
Residents of Tel Aviv react to Netanyahu police recommendations, February 14, 2018 (Reuters).
Following the Israeli Police's recommendation Tuesday night to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for bribery and breach of trust in two cases, the premier said he would run in the next election and win. A Channel 2 News poll released Wednesday shows that he might.
The poll, conducted by Mina Tzemach and Mano Geva, found that if the election were held today, Netanyahu's Likud would gain one Knesset seat, from 25 to 26, and Yesh Atid would fall by two, from 24 to 22, since the last such poll released on January 13. Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's party would gain two seats, from seven to nine.
Forty-eight percent of the public said Netanyahu should quit and 40% said he should not. A separate poll conducted by pollster Camille Fuchs for Channel 10 found that 50% believe Netanyahu should quit or suspend himself, while 42% believe he should continue as normal.
In the Channel 10 poll, 34% said they believe Netanyahu's claim that the police are part of a conspiracy to topple him, and 53% said they do not believe the claim.
After a 14-month-long investigation, police announced on Tuesday that it found enough evidence to recommend the state’s prosecution to indict Netanyahu for bribery and breach of trust in Case 1000, the “gifts affair" and Case 2000, the "Yediot Aharanot Affair."
In Case 1000, the “gifts affair,” it is alleged that Netanyahu improperly accepted expensive gifts from different businessmen.
In Case 2000, the “Yediot Aharonot affair,” Netanyahu allegedly negotiated with publisher Arnon “Noni” Mozes for favorable coverage of himself in Yediot Aharonot in exchange for support of a bill to weaken Israel Hayom, the largest circulation Hebrew-language paper and Yediot’s biggest competitor.
Police also reccomended indicting Mozes and Hollywood film producer Arnon Milchan, who is among those alleged to have given Netanyahu expensive gifts as bribes.
Eric Sumner contributed to this report.