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CNN International: Breaking News Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Expected to Face Charges Today. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired November 21, 2019 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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(SIMULCAST FROM CNN DOMESTIC IMPEACHMENT HEARING)
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This is CNN breaking news.
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hello. I'm Lynda Kinkade. We will return to Washington for more on the impeachment hearing in just a moment but we do have breaking news just into you. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to face charges today. Oren Liebermann joining me from Jerusalem.
After three years of corruption probe, just bring us up to speed with what you're hearing.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Israel's attorney general just unveiled charges against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a charge of bribery in one case as well as a charge of fraud and breach of trust in that case as well as two others.
This marks the first time in Israel's history that a sitting prime minister faces criminal indictment. That is a major blow to the personal and political future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is Israel's longest serving prime minister.
This is an ongoing case that we've followed for years now as the investigations have slowly advanced to this critical moment, where the attorney general has unveiled the charges.
There were pre-indictment hearings as Netanyahu's high-powered legal team tried to get some of these charges dropped, crucially the biggest charge of bribery. With the attorney general's announcement today, we now know he has upheld the charges he was pursuing and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust as this moves forward.
Now we expect a statement from attorney general Avichai Mandelblit in about an hour and then shortly after that we'll get a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I don't think it'll come as too much of a surprise what we hear from Netanyahu because he's been working to delegitimatize the campaign against him, the investigations against him ever since they were made public. He has said they're a media fueled witch hunt. Says the
investigations are conducted in an unfair fashion because of the leaks. As we've drawn closer to this date, we've seen him and his allies increase their rhetoric against the judiciary, including his justice minister, who said there was a state prosecutor's office within the state prosecutor's office that was acting politically, leading to a rare rebuke from both the attorney general and the state prosecutor.
Let's go through these cases for a moment so we have a better grasp on the charges Netanyahu is facing. In the biggest case against the prime minister known as case 4000, prosecutors say Netanyahu had an all-too cozy relationship with a multimillionaire friend and business owner, Shaul Elovitch.
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LIEBERMANN: In that relationship prosecutors say Netanyahu advanced regulatory benefits worth hundreds of millions of dollars in exchange for favorable news coverage in a news website controlled by Elovitch. It is in this case that prosecutors say Netanyahu will now face charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust -- a single charge, fraud and breach of trust.
Netanyahu here has said all of the decisions he made in regard to this company and his friend were made with professional considerations and were made on the advice of experts. He has proclaimed his innocence since the beginning and his lawyers were trying to get the bribery charge dismissed.
It is the most serious charge. The attorney general has upheld that charge. In the other two cases known as case 1000 and case 2000, case 1000 involves Netanyahu's relationship with multibillionaire overseas businessmen. Prosecutors say he got what they call a supply line of gifts from two overseas businessmen.
And they say that was a breach of trust. That is the charge he faces here; Netanyahu proclaiming his innocence.
In case 2000, prosecutors say Netanyahu was in talks with the owner and publisher of one of Israel's largest daily newspapers in exchange for more favorable coverage. He promised he would work to limit the circulation of that paper's rival.
Here he has proclaimed his innocence, he will face a charge of breach of trust. Crucially the question is how does this deal with Israel's political deadlock, which has been going on for months now?
And it may not move it at all. There were political actors here waiting to see in which direction this would go and what decision the attorney general would make. Whether this is a big enough decision to shift any of the politicians here to support either Gantz or Netanyahu himself at this point seems unlikely.
But it was a big decision that everyone was waiting for. And we'll see how the political deadlock shakes out from here. Likely it may not move at all, leaving Israel in the same political shape it's been in for some time now.
One thing worth noting: Netanyahu has not been formally indicted. That process might take months.
Why is that?
Because here's how the process is supposed to work. The attorney general, Avichai Mandelblit, informs the speaker of the Knesset that one of the parliamentarians will be charged. Netanyahu has a right, as does any other parliamentarian, to request parliamentary immunity. He does so from the house committee only after that process can official file -- can an official indictment be filed.
But because there is such political deadlock, there is no house committee and a formal indictment cannot be filed against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meaning for now, time is on Netanyahu's side. And this legal process could drag out for quite some time, months, I suspect, well into next year.
Crucially the big news today from Israel's attorney general Avichai Mandelblit is that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be the first sitting prime minister in Israel's history to face criminal charges, bribery in one case and fraud and breach of trust, which is a single charge, in all three cases. We expect a statement from Netanyahu in about an hour and a half. We'll keep you posted on that as well as the attorney general's statement.
KINKADE: Oren, we are just looking at those live pictures of the podium where we are expected to hear from the attorney general in less than an hour. And as you say after that we will hear from the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In terms of his political future, you did say from the get-go he has proclaimed his innocence. He has called this corruption investigation a witch hunt. In terms of his political future, from my understanding, even when indicted, he isn't legally forced to -- he won't be forced to resign.
But how much pressure will there be on him to step aside?
LIEBERMANN: Under Israeli law a prime minister who is indicted doesn't have to step down until he's indicted, convicted and that conviction is upheld through the entire appeals process, which could take years.
As for the political and public support he has, there's no doubt that those who don't support him, opposition lawmaker, will call on him to step down. They've done that before. But he has repeatedly refused those calls in the past and he's almost certain to do so once again.
Crucially Netanyahu has united his own Likud Party behind him as well as the other religious Zionists and ultra orthodox parties. They expected, perhaps, that some indictment would be coming. Whether or not it includes the more serious charge of bribery and that loyalty they've shown him may well be factored in to a pledge of support they've given him. Even with an impending criminal indictment, that may not shake the
right wing support for Benjamin Netanyahu. It is worth noting the two members of the Likud Party said they have backed primaries, which would be a leadership challenge to Netanyahu. But until that call grows louder, he can rest assured, at least for now, at least for a bit that he is still in charge of his party and still prime minister.
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KINKADE: These scandals have not just engulfed him but also his family, his wife and his inner circle, some of which have testified against him, right?
LIEBERMANN: Crucially this is what's known as case 4000, the biggest of the cases in which he faces a charge of bribery and a single charge of fraud and breach of trust, which in Israel is a single charge.
In that case, prosecutors say some of those closest to him, including the director general of the communications ministry, whom he appointed, as well as his family's spokesman were involved in the relationship between Netanyahu and the multimillionaire businessmen and the back and forth there.
Two of those key people there, both the director general of the communications ministry and his former family spokesperson turned state's witness, providing crucial evidence in this case against the prime minister. And that is what a lot of this is based on, it would seem, and we'll learn more about that in the decision process that would end up making that when we hear from the attorney general and as we go through the 63-page statement that came out today.
KINKADE: And in terms of the attorney general, this was someone that worked on -- in Netanyahu's cabinet.
What else can you tell about him?
He was hand picked for this particular post. And people were wondering whether -- how this would all play out, given his close relationship with the prime minister. But in recent times, it seems that Netanyahu's people, his aides have seemingly attacked this attorney general during this decision-making progress.
LIEBERMANN: Attorney general Avichai Mandelblit has been attacked from probably every side that's possible within Israel, those who want him to move faster and he's certainly moved at a deliberate pace over the course of the past three years, and those who oppose Netanyahu who -- rather, those in favor of Netanyahu, who say he's moving too fast and moving with political considerations.
If you look at his past, he served as Netanyahu's cabinet secretary; he was Netanyahu's choice for attorney general. He's a Netanyahu appointee. And he, from what we can see on the outside, has worked through the process as slowly as possible to get to this point.
He will certainly now face criticism that this was a political decision. Let's go to the political background here. Since the September elections, Netanyahu has failed to form a government. Gantz now failed to form a government. Now we're in a 21-day period where anyone from Knesset who can get support from the parliament can be prime minister.
He will probably be attacked because this could be interpreted as a political move to throw his support behind somebody who's not Netanyahu. Regardless of what we've seen and how this process is drawn out, the attorney general has tried to make this a slow, deliberate, methodical and careful as possible to get to this point.
KINKADE: Oren, Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving prime minister. This is going to be a huge fall from grace. And obviously it could be the end of his political career. But if convicted on these charges, he could actually face prison time.
LIEBERMANN: Yes. There's no doubt these are serious charges. Even without the charge of bribery. The single charge is a serious charge and bribery only adds to that. It is too early to call this a fall from grace.
Ever since April's elections were call, which is the first of two consecutive elections -- and that was back in December -- Netanyahu has remained prime minister. Certainly he doesn't have a functioning government. But he is prime minister.
And as long as this process of elections continues and it looks like we're on our way to a third election probably some time in March, Netanyahu remains prime minister. And I'll go back to an earlier point, which means the house committee which decides on parliamentary immunity cannot be formed which means Netanyahu can't make the request, which means the legal proceeding against Netanyahu and the formal indictment cannot yet proceed. So he is for now protected by his position as prime minister and Israel's political deadlock looks like it could be working in his favor.
KINKADE: So clearly there's political deadlock continuing. We're going to likely see a third election. We've already had two elections in less than a year.
How do you think Benny Gantz is going to read all of this as it plays out today?
LIEBERMANN: Former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz made it one of his key campaign promises that he wouldn't sit with a prime minister who is under criminal investigation and certainly not at this point facing criminal indictment.
Does it change his position?
No. If anything, it only hardens it. The question is can Gantz get any members of the Likud to cross over or any other members of the other right-wing parties to cross over and support him?
That answer at this point looks like probably not, meaning Israel's political deadlock continues. But that will be what Gantz will try to do, try to convince some of those on the right wing, some of those who have pledged loyalty to Netanyahu, who've supported Netanyahu. Now that he's facing criminal indictment, it's time to support another candidate for prime minister.
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LIEBERMANN: Gantz's party emerged the largest from the last elections. His Blue and White Party had one more seat than the Likud Party. But like Netanyahu, Gantz couldn't form a government and the deadlock continues.
KINKADE: So Oren, just bring us up to speed. Remind our viewers of the cases, the corruption cases which began December 2016, three years ago, against Netanyahu and the charges that he is set to face when we hear from the attorney general in less than an hour.
LIEBERMANN: We'll walk through these cases one by one. This started as a preliminary examination years ago then became a larger, more formal and serious criminal investigation. That was nearly three years ago. And that led to this point.
Along that way there was a police recommendation. Police do the investigation work, they look at the evidence they have and make a recommendation to prosecutors.
Prosecutors then look at that evidence again and decide on which of those charges they have recommended to proceed on. That crucial statement came in February, when the attorney general said he would pursue charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in case 4000 and fraud and breach of trust in case 2000 and 1000.
There was a hearing where Netanyahu's legal team tried to get some charges dismissed or closed or at least the charge of bribery thrown out. At this point with the statement we have now, we know the attorney general will charge pending the legal and procedural process here. The attorney general will charge Benjamin Netanyahu, a major blow to Netanyahu, who has insisted all along he's innocent.
KINKADE: All right. Oren Liebermann in Jerusalem. If you can stand by for us, we're going to take a quick break. We'll continue with this breaking news coverage of Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Stay with us. You're watching CNN.
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KINKADE: Breaking news on Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, set to face charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust within the coming hour. I want to bring in now Yonah Bob, who is the intelligence terrorism and legal analyst for "The Jerusalem Post."
Certainly this is a major development for Israel's prime minister who, of course, is the longest serving leader there. Give us give us a sense of the reaction now as we're just starting to learn about these charges.
YONAH BOB, "THE JERUSALEM POST": Listen, this is the worst case scenario. Right?
This is bribery. It could have been breach of public trust. I think everybody expected an indictment today. But nobody in Israel even the lawyers know what breach of public trust really means. Something about conflict of interest.
Bribery is something that politically sounds like a quid pro quo. It sounds really bad even to your average Israeli. In terms of the Israeli supreme court, if somebody makes a petition to force Netanyahu out of office, the Israeli supreme court itself might force him out even if he doesn't want to go.
That's the big difference between bribery and breach of trust. The other thing that really hits him is there's another case called case 2000, where they thought that maybe he wouldn't be indicted at all. And he's indicted in that case also.
Basically you've got two cases of media bribery that look like a pattern of Netanyahu trying to own the media in Israel and another case of receiving illegal gifts.
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BOB: Netanyahu's worst case scenario.
KINKADE: So this case 2000, that was over Netanyahu's alleged deal with a newspaper for favorable coverage. Tell us more about that case.
BOB: Sure. Case 2000 was between the owner of one of the two largest newspapers in Israel. Basically he said, look, if you get your friend, Sheldon Adelson, who owns "Yisrael Hayom" to be less competitive with me in certain ways, print a little bit less on the weekends, hand out fewer newspapers for free, a bunch of things like that, I will give you positive coverage in "Yedioth Ahronoth."
Netanyahu always was sore that he never got positive coverage in "Yedioth Ahronoth." Some people said Moshe Lador, former chief prosecutor, had said something like this could be worth $1 billion. It could win somebody an election even if it wasn't money to become prime minister. That's case 2000.
Case 4000 involved another news media outlet, Walla, which is one of the largest news websites in Israel. There you had Shaul Elovitch, who owned that website and Netanyahu basically got positive coverage.
The attorney general says systematically positive coverage on the Walla website in exchange for using his power as communications minister to get money for that same man, Shaul Elovitch, who owned this giant telecommunications company called Bezeq.
KINKADE: And case 1000, that is the breach of trust issue over allegations that he took gifts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from businessmen who, in order to promote essentially their interests.
BOB: That's right. So you have Arnon Milchan, who's a tycoon and billionaire as the main figure here. You also have James Packer, another billionaire involved at some point. But most of it is about Milchan. And basically the idea is you have Milchan asking Netanyahu to help him to get a visa involving the U.S. secretary of state.
You have Netanyahu getting helicopter rides with the army in order to have Milchan have special meetings with foreign officials. You have allegations that Netanyahu tried to pass bills to reduce taxes for Milchan.
Now at the end of the day, most of these things didn't happen the same way. In case 4000, the bribery actually happened, according to the attorney general. In case 1000, because some of the deals that Netanyahu wasn't maybe able to fully work out for Milchan, that's why it's not bribery and breach of trust.
But the attorney general still said, you still did all sorts of actions and the conflict of interest situation, receiving gifts that you shouldn't have received. That's breach of trust.
KINKADE: Right. OK. We're going to leave it there for now. Yonah Bob from "The Jerusalem Post." Good to have you with us. We will come back to you again soon, no doubt. We are, of course, covering the breaking news. Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu set to face charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. We'll take a break. We'll be right back.
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