Protesters Demand Netanyahu Resign over Possible Indictment

Corruption is Everywhere - but in Israel?

By Ed Adamczyk 

Israeli protesters hold signs during a protest Friday in Tel Aviv, Israel, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

to resign amid a police recommendation that the leader be indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in two

corruption cases. Photo by Debbie Hill/UPI | License Photo

UPI -- Israeli protesters rallied in Tel Aviv Friday to demand Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's resignation, due to a potential indictment on bribery charges.

Former Israel Police Commissioner and one-time Netanyahu supporter Assaf Hefetz spoke at the midday rally in Tel Aviv's Habima Square. The audience was estimated to include between 1,000 and 2,000 people.

Israeli police announced Tuesday that enough evidence exists to charge Netanyahu with bribery and breach of trust over alleged receipt of $283,000 in gifts from business leaders.

Collusion is also alleged between the Israeli leader and a newspaper publisher, by which Netanyahu purportedly granted political favors in exchange for favorable media coverage.

"There is not one public figure who would have remained in his post with the recommendations of two bribery cases. Bibi must resign," Hefetz said.

Netanyahu has denied the allegations of corruption, and said he won't resign or turn state affairs over to an acting prime minister while Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit decides whether to pursue the case.

Another speaker, former judge Oded Eligon, referred to Netanyahu and wife Sara as "our royal couple."

Sara Netanyahu has been under police investigation for alleged misuse of public funds.

The protest on Friday was organized by left-wing Israeli political groups who have run weekly anti-Netanyahu demonstrations -- mostly in Tel Aviv and nearby Petah Tivka -- for over a year.

Netanyahu Wins Elections, Says He Will Not Allow Palestinian State

Israel election: US concern over 'divisive' rhetoric

From BBC Middle East

Breaking news

Bibi does it again!

The White House says it is deeply concerned at what it called the "divisive rhetoric" in the Israeli election, which ended in a surprise win for Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party.

During campaigning, Mr Netanyahu said he would not allow the creation of a Palestinian state if re-elected.

The US, UN and EU have all urged him to continue with the two-state solution. All three of which are left of center organizations with no great love for Israel.

Mr Netanyahu aims to build a new coalition government within two to three weeks, his party says.

This weeks elections were a major surprise in that pre-election polls and exit polls had Netanyahu's Likud party in a virtual dead-heat with the Herzog-Livny Zionist Union at 27 seats each. Israeli's went to bed that night thinking the government was going to be a real mess for weeks to come, but woke up to the news that Likud had won 30 seats, Zionist Union only 24. Herzog conceded defeat.

This was quite an accomplishment for Netanyahu who was under attack from all sides in an 'anyone but Bibi' campaign. There are suspicions that there may also have been interference in the elections from foreign powers who do not like Netanyahu. One can only guess who they might be. Pffft!

It's interesting that the third biggest party to emerge from the election was the Joint Arab List, a coalition of Arab parties, with an impressive 14 seats. And yet, you will still hear lots of Palestinian supporters complaining about the lack of Palestinian rights in Israel. They, in fact, have far more rights and benefits in Israel than they do in any Arab countries where many Palestinians live.