Israeli police on Sunday recommended indicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara for bribery and other offences, the third such recommendation against the premier in recent months. In exchange, Netanyahu and his wife struck a deal with Elovitch, giving the Israeli prime minister favorable coverage on the Walla news site. These recommendations were decided and leaked before the investigation had even begun.
Police say the investigation, which included the evidence of 60 witnesses, revealed that Mr Netanyahu and Bezeq boss Shaul Elovitch engaged in a "bribe-based relationship".
Police have already recommended indicting Mr Netanyahu on corruption charges in two other cases, one involving accepting gifts from billionaire friends, and the second revolving around alleged offers of advantageous legislation for a newspaper in return for positive coverage.
Shortly after the police recommendations were made public, Netanyahu issued a statement saying that the allegations had no legal basis and that ultimately nothing would come of the investigation.
The police recommendations are non-binding.
The case, known as Case 4000, is one of the largest facing the Israeli leader and his inner circle.
More news: Theresa May embarks on United Kingdom tour in Brexit deal blitzThe prime minister insists that he and his wife have done nothing wrong or illegal and that he intends to remain in office. Information leaked to the Israeli media suggested the agreement would have allowed the Prime Minister to receive more favourable coverage from the newspaper if he agreed to weaken the status of rival daily newspaper Israel Hayom, owned by U.S. casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. She also illegally paid approximately $10,000 for private chefs, prosecutors said.
Following the latest statement from police on Sunday, opposition politicians once again called on Netanyahu to resign. "There was no fraud, no breach of trust or any other felony".
"Netanyahu must go home before he destroys the law enforcement in order to save his own skin. The people of Israel deserve clean leadership".
"The question is what will happen first: Will the attorney-general decide to prosecute or will the Government collapse?" said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Netanyahu held the government's communications portfolio until a year ago and oversaw regulation in the field.
"A prime minister with so many criminal cases around him can not continue in his job and must resign", said Avi Gabbay, the head of the Labor party.
