Netanyahu Corruption Accusations Are An ‘Internal Israeli Matter,’ U.S. Says
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves the Muni World conference in Tel Aviv on February 14, 2018. Netanyahu said his government was ‘stable’ and criticized the police investigation against him after detectives recommended his indictment for corruption. Image by JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
The Israel Police’s recommendation to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an “internal Israeli matter,” the U.S. State Department said.
“The United States has a very strong relationship not only with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but also the Israeli Government. We’re certainly aware of it, but we consider it to be an internal Israeli matter,” State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a press briefing on Tuesday.
The news conference came hours after the police recommended to Israeli prosecutors that Netanyahu be indicted on bribery and breach of trust charges in two alleged corruption cases.
Netanyahu professed his innocence and asserted that he would continue to lead the ruling government coalition.
On Wednesday, an attorney for the prime minister said the total amount of gifts Netanyahu received amounted to less than half of the $285,000 million alleged by police and that they were gifts, not bribes.
Netanyahu is at the center of two probes. In one, known as Case 1000, he allegedly received expensive gifts from supporters in return for advancing their interests, including expensive cigars and champagne from the Israeli-born Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan. In the other, Case 2000, Netanyahu is alleged to have conspired with Arnon Mozes, the owner of the Israeli daily Yediot Acharonot, to advance legislation hobbling the free and pro-Netanyahu tabloid Israel Hayom bankrolled by American billionaire Sheldon Adelson.
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