Mandelblit Tells Police to Wait with Netanyahu Recommendations

YERUSHALAYIM
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. (Yossi Zamir/Flash90)

The police recommendation to indict Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on corruption charges will have to wait a few more days at least, to allow the High Court time to rule on a petition against making them public.

Months of investigations attended by intense media coverage were to reach a crescendo on Tuesday, when evidentiary materials and police recommendations were scheduled to be handed over to state attorneys and published.

But on Sunday, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit instructed the police to delay the submissions pending the Court ruling.

Law enforcement sources explained to Haaretz that it would appear “dishonest” to disclose the recommendations before the Court has decided whether to permit it or not.

On Monday, the state will ask the court to dismiss the petition, and the court is expected to rule on it within a few days, after which the police can proceed.

The petition was filed by attorney Yossi Fuchs, a member of the Jewish Home party. Fuchs argues that although the law that restricts the issuing of police recommendations passed in December does not apply to the Netanyahu cases, the previous law also doesn’t permit the police to recommend prosecuting suspects.

Last week, Israeli media reported that the investigators were planning to recommend for indictment. Mr. Netanyahu responded with a special video insisting his innocence and reiterating that the charges are baseless.

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