PM vows not to step down as prime minister following AG’s decision to indict him.

T. Belman. If Bibi continues on this path then I can’t see a government forming. Nor do I see any more in his block after third election.

Netanyahu slams ‘coup’ after indictments

Arutz Sheva Staff21/11/19 21:00

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded Thursday to the Attorney General’s decision to indict him for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

“I respect the Israeli judicial authorities very much. They have earned a world-wide name and rightly so. But one has to be blind to not see that something not good is happening with the police and the prosecutor’s office,” Netanyahu said.

“Today we see an attempt to make a government coup against the prime minister with false allegations and in the process of tainted and biased investigations.

“I’ve given my life for the State. I fought for it and was wounded for it.”

“The Attorney General published the final indictment in a rushed fashion at this most sensitive time. The initial indictment was also published during an election.

The timing of this decision throws the legal process against me into question. We need law enforcement authorities that can be trusted by the public. The tainted investigation against me created new crimes – that is disgraceful to me and to Israel.”

“The police are aware that they have lost the public’s faith,” Netanyahu said, adding that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit caved in to State Attorney Shai Nitzan’s pressure.

I won’t step down,” Netanyahu asserted. “I will continue to lead the country.”

November 21, 2019 | 23 Comments »

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23 Comments / 23 Comments

  1. @ Edgar G.:When I was young I worked in Criminal Justice and I took several law classes and then actually applied this in my work. My undergraduate degree is in Criminology. I know two areas of law well Criminal Law and Business Law.
    ,
    Now that you explained I agree I also do not like trial by newspaper as been going on via selective leaks to Bibi.

  2. And what has happened to Adam Dalgliesh. Up to this he was writing like mountains of facts on Israpundit. Now not a cheep! Is that not totally weird?

    And the big lesson for me in all of this is that Sherman is full of hot air. At the biggest moment of crisis Sherman has not said a word. In these situations one minute, and a delay of one minute, is like a generation!

  3. @ Sebastien Zorn:
    I do not understand your comment. Why were you disappointed in Shaked? What did you expect? She with Bennett were expelled by Netanyahu i believe.

    What you really mean is that you expect a leadership to arise apontaneously or eventhat you are opposed to leadership in total.

    And what do you mean when you say that the moves will have to proceed by piece meal? if Netanyahu is defeated,and ted and Bear Klein are doing all they can to ensure that, then your comment is stupid, because there will be a complete reversal.

    And you are wrong also it is not just about the Arabs. There are many other issues involved in the crisis of the capitalist system and by far the most serious is global warming. Here Trump is the greates and most evil fool on earth.

  4. @ Sebastien Zorn:

    Yes you are right, I was disappointed in Shaked also, but realised that she, like all the others, has to kow -tow to the wonderful, honest, dedicated to (pulling down their perceived enemies) dispensing true justice, legal system, as is written in BaMidbar….”Justice, Justice, shalt thou pursue….” Well, as we all know they pursue it -from a distance, which keeps getting longer and farther back all the time.

    Today we have reached the “barefaced manufactured crime” section…and perhaps eventually will reach a point where deliberate murder is merely a misdemeanour, meriting no penalty at all.

  5. From this ad infested and crazily organised site

    quote…Majority of public believes Netanyahu cannot continue as PM
    Channel 13 News poll: 56% believe Netanyahu cannot be PM under indictment. If elections were held today, the blocs would remain the same.

    A poll published on Friday by Channel 13 News finds that, after Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit’s announcement on the indictments of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, a majority of the public, 56%, believes he cannot continue to serve as prime minister.

    35% of poll respondents think that Netanyahu can continue in the role, and 9% answered “I don’t know”.

    If elections were held today, the poll found, Blue and White would be the largest party in the Knesset with 36 seats, and the Likud would win 33 seats. Yisrael Beytenu wins eight seats, and continues to be the balance of power.

    The poll also shows the Joint List as the third largest party with 13 seats. United Torah Judaism has 6 seats, as do Shas and the New Right. Labor-Gesher, the Democratic Union and United Right each win 4 seats.

    The map of the blocs that emerges from the poll is that the left-wing bloc stands at 57 seats, and the right at 55 – the same result as the previous elections in September.

    Respondents also asked who they would consider to be responsible if Israel goes to elections for the third time in a year. 35% responded that Netanyahu would be the main culprit, 27% blamed Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman, and 25% believed they were equally responsible. Only 4% responded that Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz would be to blame for a third election
    http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272111

    Click at peril of your computer.

    Anyway this is the truth of the situation and explains perfectly the situation. In the absence of leadership, just as in global warming denial, the denialists begin to chip in at the certainty and the public are grievously effected.

    What does this mean to any of you? Change that what does it mean to say Martin Sherman? It means very little because he has not addressed it! Have you information if so share it.

    What it really means is that the present leadership set up in Israel is not fit to purpose.

    I saw this very clearly on the issue of global warming and Israpundit. All lies blazing!

    There are going to be many now who will be in support of Netanyahu and against the plots of the deep state, including Bennett and Shaked, on the issue of leadership. But have any of them an answer is the only question?

    But they have no answer and will not have an answer because I saw them all lie through their teeth on the issue of global warming. IT IS THE SAME THING.

    So it is the same thing on this site Israel national News. The layout of the site is confusing and the message designed to confuse.

    At a time when clear leadership to defend Netanyahu is needed they print this without any fight back against.

    That is the same thing as the BBC report on the Jewish gravestones this morning, creating the confusion between Communism and Stalinism.

  6. I warned before in response to somebody here that the overthrow of the Iranian fascist regime will be far from an easy task. The Mullahs who took over in 1979 are resorting now to widespread murder and all the associated torture, more murder, and there is hardly a word about this internationally. We live in a world of lies and unless we find the organisational basis for answering these lies we as a human society are finished. In a certain way the Iranian regime fits right in with these who oppose nation, the same is covered over by a giant conspiracy created by the profit mongering oil, coal and gas which will end life on earth completely.

    As I said I do not think that Netanyahu and Trump are much use for anything really. Trump took these two familial nonentities in with him to the WH. Amazing move that. Would you do that. What arrogance. Breitbart has run a fashion page on his wife, this coat, that trouser suit, Ermani scarf, all that cow manure. Jones goes mad. Netanyahu has refused to raise consistently name of Hajj Amin el Husseini. In a moment when immediate action was needed where was Martin Sherman?

    There are people here who oppose the science of the global warming issue and then there are people who want to use the same kind of confusion as regards what is happening to poor Netanyahu and his wife. Delay and sow confusion.

    So where are we. The Iranians will be put down by the Mullahs. Netanyahu will not fight it through if his past is anything to go by. Sherman will eventually come out with a “perfect” statement or article. ted will readjust after his initial comment. By the way when I wrote there were only TWO comments up, the one by Ted as introduction, and the one by bear Klein, and i termed both immediately as being cowardly. And Edgar has got it exactly right and in detail. but I warned Edgar about Shaked about a year, or more, ago when she was siding with the Arabs against 3 youth over a fire and condemning the youth, and also it seems she is prepared to execute a Jew, my goodness! Edgar there are no exceptions to these types, they are out of the swamp.

    So we are here exactly. The methods of Netanyahu have got nowhere. Israel has been made into a capitalist and climate denial state. You also have this intersection with Antisemitism. trump and his team sacrifice people around him. Where Stone goes Israel also could have to go.

    i saw the method of lying on this very sight over global warming science. All implicated except for one called Lorechenko, and a later statement from ted that he had banned him, because he did not like his leftism.

    So what have we got in Israpundit. A very strange set up indeed. Not fit in any way for the challenges.

    the rights of the Jews to their Homeland in Israel is total. the fight against all forms of antisemitism is imperative.

    But can the Jews fight in the old way and survive in this terrible new era? I listened this morning to a BBC piece on the Czech walking on Jewish broken up headstones placed there by the Stalinists under Breznev. the big lie from all sides BBC and a Jewish guy was repeated over about 20 times in this one piece. it was Stalinism not Communism. To understand that you have to understand history but some chance, to understand history you have to start without bias.

    In short there needs to be a party in Israel that will fight in every way against lies of all types.

  7. @ Bear Klein:

    No, I don’t disagree with you.. You misunderstand me, also you didn’t correctly read my post. I was commenting on your comment. As far as I can see, the almost instantaneous “leaks” straight from “the horse’s mouth”…as it were, gave enough to hang our poor victim 50 times over, in our crooked Israeli in-“justice” system, where laws are “custom”-made especially, for the chosen nebbuchal. I catered for that in my response, I said that there would also be some undisclosed evidence produced..I assume, and likely correctly, that this, along with what is already out there, will be the whole schmear.

    I didn’t know you were a legal professional

  8. Edgar G. Said:

    …”strong against Jews and soft against Arabs…”Funny, you should mention it, I was just thinking, today, what if, more than anything else, this is the one unpardonable crime that unites Bibi, Trump, Johnson, and Orban in the dock of the court of international liberal opinion? Dershowitz and Glick are right, these are non-crimes. I am disappointed in Shaked. I think, now that Bibi has fastracked the bill applying sovereignty to the Jewish communties in the Jordan Valley, endless elections would be fine as long as he stays in. The only problem with him wa stalling on sovereignty and settlement. This will have to be done, piece-meal.

  9. @ Edgar G.:
    Edgar I from my own perspective learned long ago that unless one sees all the evidence and witnesses testifying you can not make a complete accurate professional opinion. You disagree with me that is not a problem.

  10. @ Bear Klein:

    What do you mean..”judge the facts when I learn the evidence”..The evidence, such as it is, has been spread all over the news outlets sizzling hot from the lips of the manufacturers of it. Weekly, daily, and hourly. And you have said several times, that Netanyahu should go, that his time to give up the PM seat is overdue, that he has been there long enough, and other words to that effect…paraphrased of course..

    Doubtless we will hear more legalistically phrased, mellifluous terms, and a few still undisclosed facts, or insinuations, but most of the “evidence” impelling the indictment, has been spread all over the tablecloth from the beginning. Even poor Sara’s supposed outburst to Dr. Adelson, who although calling herself a physician, took it upon herself to publicly advertise the suffering of the distraught woman
    (and diagnose her condition….. PUBLICLY)…., who has had an unbearable load to carry for many years. What kind of a supposedly ethical doctor would ever do such a thing?

  11. @ Bear Klein:

    No Bear, you are often very acute and correct in your conjectures, but in this case…NO. I’ve noticed this propensity for years, and have written much about it elsewhere over the years. It is VERY obvious, (like the onlookers calling blessings down on their persecutors)…… You KNOW as well as I, that the whole Israeli Justice system is corrupt to the core. And you also know, (lets forget about Shaked’s encomium-shes just doing what they ALL have to do) that Mandelblit is performing a political HIT par excellence.

    That stuff about the prosecutors office is just a red herring for me….. It is Mandelblit who decides on the end game not they…….. The investigations, questions under warnings, intentions to indict and finally, indictment, ALL come from him, supposedly from a purely legal viewpoint and the weight of evidence. He’s the legal macher here. .
    And the TIMINGS, which cause Netanyahu and Likud, the most possible damage. HE is the lynch-pin…and in this case the word lynch is very aptly if accidentally, used.

    We are not even considering the calibre of the should-have-been- feeble opposition, the 4 failed generals and neophyte/failed politicians… Do you think that in a normal atmosphere they or their collaborators would ever have even been whispered about…??. It bears all the earmarks of a pre-arranged plan, or , more properly, a plot.

    Even multitudes of foreign REAL legal experts have got into the act…ALL saying there is NO crime here. This will be a jet-black mark on Israeli Justice for generations to come. Even if Netanyahu is found innocent. He has been ruined politically, which was the intent of the whole thing.

    Do you recall at the very beginning, the offer from the Prosecutors office that if he retired from politics they would drop the charges…..?????

    Sorry to disagree, Bear.

  12. @ Edgar G.:Mandebilt may not be the problem that is why Shaked who knows him very well is speaking up for him. She DOES not do perfunctory praise.

    The question is the State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan who was responsible for the work or the supervision of the work and is the person responsible for bringing the charges is and was he hell bent on getting Bibi charged by more than the facts?

    Having working in Criminal Justice is just so common to have people make mountains of accusations, distortions and emotional reactions to charges whether they know anything about what is going on or not. Seems to be a human condition. Whether someone is getting a parking ticket, speeding ticket or being charged with bribery. Specific detailed knowledge of the facts and/or understanding or a legal system is not a prerequisite to a strong opinion.

    By the way prosecutor brought the charges to the Attorney General in 2018, so it is not like he has not been working on this thoroughly with great thought.

  13. @ Bear Klein:

    I also respect Shaked, but in this case, she is just following the obligatory mantra about the wonderful courts, judges and judicial system etc ad nauseam. I began to write about this years ago and lately have been blistering the pages on A7 ., where I have reiterated my positions on these matters. I strongly believe that the fulsome paeans of praise that every politician being brought before the courts or even those who are under their radar, MUST emit, their routine knee-bend to these un-elected monsters, is because one day they might be in Netanyahu’s position….

    They always also mention the high International regard that the Israeli Justice System garners from the International Community…ALWAYS….. This, in my STRONG opinion, is because our courts are strong against Jews and soft against Arabs. We still have that age-old need to get that pat on the head from the monstrous Goyim, our devourers and and persecutors. This knee-jerk reaction is endemic in all Israeli public figures.

    Let me speak now about Mandelblit. This crook, whom every politician needs…NEEDS to placate and schmear publicly, carefully selected the timing of his “possible”, examinations, investigations, and warnings of “possible” Indictments,

    (There was NO possible about it. He was determined from the beginning to pull Netanyahu down and we all knew it).

    All just at the most critical times…at election lead up, and during campaigning, and even voting, and now, as soon as Gantz handed back the portfolio, to pounce on Netanyahu , so as to prevent him from trying to use the 21 days to make another attempt to form a govt. The poll out today from another Netanyahu enemy, meshes nicely between them. It condemns (by carefully selected “public opinion”), any attempt by Netanyahu to remain as PM until convicted, although the Law allows it. They are trying to make new law by “opinions”..

    II had all this laid out far more eloquently about an hour ago, but when I tried to post, I found I had no internet, so it all was lost. This replacement is a feeble imitation. but contains my salient points.. Netanyahu is NOT one of the shadowy cabal which rules Israel, and succeeded against their WILL, due only to his brilliant capabilities, which brought Israel from being a fringe 3rd world country to one of the foremost nations of the globe.
    So they HAVE to get rid of him…….and here is their chance, with a willing stooge……
    Mandelblit…..!!

  14. I hope Bibi is found innocent. I will judge the facts of the cases when I learn the evidence or lack thereof. I will not prejudge what is going on. Bibi now that the initial shock and anger has begun to wane, is also beginning to deal with the reality of what is going on and realizes that trashing the whole system is not beneficial to Israel.

    That said, life in Israel needs to go on and a government is needed ASAP and not in 4 to 6 months. The Likud is also starting to wake up to this:

    According to a report from Channel 12, there has been talk of replacing Prime Minister Netanyahu within Likud following the announcement that he will be brought up on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

    The senior officials believe that the only way to move Netanyahu out of office is to agree on a single replacement, who will attempt to get the necessary 61 signatories of Mks in the Knesset in order to form a government.

    Beyond internal Likud discussions, Netanyahu posted a video on his Facebook page this evening (Friday) addressing his supporters, and stating that the final ruling in the three cases against him must be decided by the courts.
    Netanyahu added that “[he] want(s) to thank [the] masses of Israeli citizens for [their] extraordinary love, [which] comes from the heart and [goes] into the heart. “I know that you will be at the Tel Aviv Museum on Friday night and that you will go to the [street] intersections, but above all you will be in my heart.”
    Netanyahu then spoke about his position on the rule of law: “of course, I want to make it clear that this whole process will ultimately be decided in court.” “According to the rule of law, and that means those who do not follow the rule of law within the police or the prosecutor’s office, there will be scrutiny, there has to be criticism and there needs to be a correction, that’s the main thing I said yesterday.”
    Netanyahu also addressed his supporters directly, stating that “beyond this, I want to say, whoever elects the Israeli prime minister are you citizens.”we now have great historical opportunities, such as annexing the Jordan Valley, maintaining our security, [enhancing] alliances with our neighbors and many things that should not be missed. We will work together and win.”
    The announcement comes following a speech given on Thursday in which Netanyahu strongly criticized the police and judicial system for indicting him on corruption charges. Full article at https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Netanyahu-we-will-accept-the-courts-decision-608712

  15. @ Bear Klein:Read Carolyn Glick. If the self-selected legal theocracy can make you take one step back, then they know that they can take you hundreds of steps back. Just like Gaza –you must draw the line and fight. Otherwise, you will be a victim of perpetual terror

  16. @ Bear Klein:
    “‘The Attorney General is honest and acted professionally”

    Bear, I beg to disagree. An AG might be acting professionally, in indicting an Israeli citizen, even the PM; but indicting one NOW, just after two elections, while the knesset is trying to form a government, with the prospect of new elections, is not “professionalism”: it is election meddling, pure and simple; and I don’t care how well you know Shaked. The AG is acting unprofessionally, improperly and EXTREMELY suspiciously.

    You know, the High Court/ AG’s antics against PM Netanyahu are hardly precedent-setting, as this seems to be the normal way in which the Opposition in Israel overthrows the country’s leaders. It happened not only to Olmert, but also to Sharon. Now, it seems, this form of misgovernment is being imported to the US as well.

    How can anyone believe, that the entities backing this sham “lawfare”, in both cases, are not in league with Soros and his fellow globalists. They want to overthrow not just Israel, not just the US, but the whole world order. These are underminers of democracy and freedom; and we would be fools to acquiesce to them. My daughter lives under a Communist dictatorship, and I guaranty to you that it is not a pleasant state of affairs. These people have a worldwide agenda, and they pack more muscle than the Islamists they are allied to; and the ones they want to muscle out are YOU and ME.

  17. @ Felix Quigley:

    “Shlomo right. He must not for a second step aside” — F. Quigley

    I agree.

    “The timing of this decision throws the legal process against me into question. We need law enforcement authorities that can be trusted by the public. The tainted investigation against me created new crimes – that is disgraceful to me and to Israel.” — B. Netanyahu

    Also,

    “I know about Basic Law: Government, which clearly states that a prime minister is allowed to remain in office even after he or she is indicted, and only needs to step down once a final verdict is handed down. Not a verdict in the first court that hears the case but in the appeal, or the appeal on the appeal. Basically, in a long time.” — Y. Katz, Jerusalem Post

    It’s clear to me, that the same people who are trying to overthrow the US government with a coup based on inuendos, is trying to overthrow Israel the same way. There must be an incredible amount of money and corruption involved. Our countries are fighting for their lives, and their leaders need to fight with them. God help us.

  18. Shaked whose view I respect stated the following. She knows the Attorney General well and all should remember he was appointed by Bibi.

    ‘The Attorney General is honest and acted professionally’
    Ayelet Shaked defends Attorney General after Netanyahu indicted. ‘Even if we don’t agree with the decision, it was handled professionally.’

    “Mandelblit is an honest man, who makes his decisions independently, based on the evidence and his professional opinion. Even if we don’t agree [with the decision], it is important to recognize that his motives are professional.”

    Shaked also pushed back on claims that the court must intervene following the Prime Minister’s indictment, arguing that Netanyahu’s indictment did not bar him from either remaining on as premier, or bar him from running again if the country heads to its third elections in less than a year.

    “If we end up having a third election, it is important even then that the one decides this is only the public, not the courts.”

    Full article at
    http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/272097

  19. @ Felix Quigley:
    This is all about a coup situation. Coups can take many forms and here the clear intention is to place a pro iranian and pro nazi antisemitic regime in place, which is the meaning of Gantz making overtures to the Arab Mks.

    there are two forces which have the potential to really shake the Iranian Mullah regime and that is Israel and America and my focus is actually on what is happening today in Iran.

    These attacks on Trump and Netanyahu, and contradictorily I have not much confidence in either, but are playing into the game of keeping the Mullahs in power forever. Criminal. really criminal.

    One result of this as i actually perceive it, is that the fascist left, and I do not mean real socialist revolutionaries in the model of Leon Trotsky, who defended the Jews, are laughing at this, the persecution of Netanyahu.

    This Court is a very dangerous thing indeed and has nothing to do with democracy. I am not saying Netanyahu is a lot of use politically, really. The biggest issue by far in my opinion, in these hours, is the revolution or attempted revolution in Iran against the Mullah dictatorship, which is like a circle going right back to 1979, and the criminal role of the American Governments then under Carter and over many years. There is a big chance of the overthrow of the Mullahs today. Iranian people are showing almost unbelievable courage. It is in this situation that traitors are filling the political scene with lies in America in the Impeachment, and now in this attack from a fascist state in the coup against Netanyahu.

    I am not saying they could lead to help overthrow the Mullahs anyway, either Trump or Netanyahu, but my point is that these Fascists attacking are helping the Mullahs and indeed are sympathetic to the Mullahs through a strong support of the so called “Palestinians”.

  20. Disagree strongly with these two comments because I believe the coup is coming from the other direction and the only mistake that patriots made was not to destroy these democracy haters of th Court allready. NOW IT IS LATE TO DO SO but better late than never and in order to save the homeland it is necessary to wrest control from off these legal jerks.

    Bibi is right not to give in to these not elected jerks who have got a record of traitor to the people who founded the country and he must follow up very hard indeed and against the defeatist tone and cowardice of our twofriends above.

    I would support non compliance down the line and to the end of the line with these traitorous legal jerks and to within 1 week have a report published of what has happened because very few people are in true knowledge that the crimes are non existent, that this is printed in millions so every citizen knows, and a real election is held the centre of which is the scrapping of this very court and telling all these legal jerks to find new jobs, and best of all NOT in Israel.

  21. At the moment the die hard Bibi supporters are mad and defiant of the charges. His best leadership for the country and the Likud would be to step aside.

    Idiocy. And cowardice. No prime minister should be sidelined because a politically motivated AG decides that seeking positive news coverage is suddenly a crime for the first time in human history. Bibi must stay and fight.

  22. At the moment the die hard Bibi supporters are mad and defiant of the charges. His best leadership for the country and the Likud would be to step aside.

    The smart thing for the country would be the Likud leadership gets together and appoints another Likud member to be temporary PM. That would help this person and the party if they then also win the primary of the Likud prior to the next general elections. They could hold a primary in 3 to 4 weeks to give the Likud time to campaign with the new leader.

    If they continue on the path were they Bibi will be running and he is going to continue as the interim PM for the next 5 to 7 months until elections and the coalition forming period it is likely the right will get killed in the elections

    First, some voters will switch to Blue & White and some will just sit out the elections.

    If Bibi becomes a roadblock to new Likud leadership he will hurt the Likud, right-wing and the country.

    If he gets acquitted he could always come back into politics but maybe it is time to face facts his time his rapidly coming to a close as the leader of Israel.