Netanyahu In The Frame For Bribery circa 1999 In Israel, like in the U.S., it's against the law for public officials to
receive gifts. Gifts, large or small, can easily be construed as bribes. Even
innocent-looking gifts can hide a trade in favors. (This journalist once tried
to thank a high-ranking Israeli civil servant for a small personal favor by
sending him a bottle of champagne. The civil servant wouldn't even let the
deliveryman in the door, insisting politely but firmly the bottle be returned
immediately to the store.)........... Instead, the talk around bars, cafes and water coolers is a re-hash of stories
about his wife's famously bad temper, and his own habits of minor-league
nest-feathering. Israeli restaurateurs of this reporter's acquaintance claim
Netanyahu was legendary in his day for showing up at restaurants, wining and
dining with his friends, ending the meal with a big cigar, and when the bill
came, just waving his hand saying "It'll be taken care of," and
leaving.
Police Move To Charge Netanyahu
[ 28 March, 2000 ] The eight-month police investigation focused
on suspicions that Mr Netanyahu and his wife kept official gifts that should
have been handed over to the state after he left office, in July. The gifts reportedly included
candlesticks, silverware, candelabra, carpets, pictures, scarves and a gold
letter opener that was a gift from US Vice President Al Gore. They are also accused of charging the
government for services of a contractor who did private work for them. The contractor, Avner Amedi, turned
state's witness and gave investigators details of nine years of service to Mr
Netanyahu.
In a statement, police said Mr Amedi had not
billed the former prime minister for services worth $50,000, accepting instead
a promise "that Netanyahu, in his official capacity, would ensure he received
proper compensation".
Scandals Prime Minister Ehud Barak: police are currently probing his campaign
financing. They say Mr Barak's party, One Israel, circumvented the spending
limits to election donations in his successful campaign against Mr
Netanyahu. President Ezer Weizman: is under investigation for accepting large sums
of money from a French businessman in the 80's Transport Minister Yitzhak Mordechai: suspected of sexually harassing a
female staff in his office Rabbi Ovadia Yosef - the spiritual head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas
Party: under investigation on suspicion of incitement to violence against a
political adversary.
UNQUOTE
Israel's New Attorney General Kept Politicians Out Of Prison
[ 7 February 2010 ]
QUOTE
CBS News Correspondent Jesse Schulman
Explains What Happens When A Handyman Bills A Former Prime Minister For
$100,000 (CBS) Frenzied supporters shouting "Bibi! Bibi!" crowd
around and stab the air with V-for victory signs as Benjamin Netanyahu climbs
into his car. Netanyahu, glistening with sweat, wearing his trademark wolfish
grin, combatively assures his fans of victory.
No, don't hit the "refresh" button on your browser, this is not an
outdated page somehow come back to haunt you.
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is back in Israel's headlines - and under
police investigation on suspicion of bribery.
The latest allegations of scandal in high places came to light in the best
tradition of investigative reporting - or in the worst tradition of Israeli
muckraking, depending on your point of view. Yediot Aharanot, Israel's
biggest-selling daily paper, published details of the newest scandal to
surround the former prime minister, who was trounced in his re-election bid in
May by Ehud Barak.
What started this scandal rolling was a bill for almost $100,000 submitted to
the prime minister's office by a Jerusalem handyman named Avner Amedi. The
bill was for miscellaneous services rendered while Netanyahu was in office,
from floor polishing and furniture moving to clearing out a garden shed at the
home of Netanyahu's mother.
What set off alarm bells was that this bill was for work Netanyahu had
apparently ordered but not paid for over a period of at least three years and
perhaps as much as six. By the contractor's undisputed account, he was at the
Netanyahu's residence some 200 times.
It's a little odd by any standard to work so much over such a long time and
not get paid. All the more so in this case, since Avner Amedi is a small-time
operator whose wife runs a West Jerusalem flower shop, not a
three-piece-suited construction mogul who can afford to drop $100,000 worth of
work as a "contribution."
Without the protection of high office, it will be interesting to see whether
this time it's the bill that gets "taken care of" or Netanyahu himself.
UNQUOTE
Abuse of power is a habit. He seems to have gotten away with this one. See
also
Police findings could lead to Netanyahu indictment
QUOTE
Police move to charge Netanyahu
Israeli police have recommended that criminal
charges should be brought against the former prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu
and his wife, Sara. If Israel's attorney-general accepts the
recommendation, Mr Netanyahu could be charged with accepting a bribe, fraud
and breach of trust by a public servant. His wife could face charges that include
theft.
Several other senior Israeli politicians
are currently under investigation or involved in scandals.
Corruption in Israel is deep seated, very sincere, very political.
UNQUOTE
His clients include
Dan Cohen, a former judge [ $2.8 million
and over a million euros in bribes ],
Netanyahu, current Prime Minister [
Netanyahu
expense fraud ], Olmert, the previous prime minister [ fraud, still on trial in
2011 ],
Weinrot, an attorney [ bribery charges pending ],
Eitan Rube, director of the
Tax Authority [ bribery ], Deripaska [ murder,
wholesale bribery ] He will deal with Lieberman,
racist thug and Foreign Minister [ thieving ]. You might get the impression from
this that all Jews are bent or, perhaps that some/most/an overwhelming
majority/all Jews in big business and politics are rogues without conscience.
PS Weinstein's clients do not include the president of Israel currently on trial
for multiple rape.
PPS The Wikipedia
gives clients as inter alia
Ezer Weizman,
Aryeh
Deri,
Ehud
Olmert,
Benjamin Netanyahu,
Yossi Beilin,
Avigdor Ben-Gal and others.
