TEL AVIV, Israel — Benjamin Netanyahu has survived many challenges on his way to becoming the second longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history. A deepening criminal investigation now presents a new threat to his grip on power.
Police questioned Netanyahu twice in recent weeks over his receipt of gifts from businessmen and for reportedly plotting to help a newspaper owner in return for favorable coverage. He denies any wrongdoing. But with a steady drip of leaks from the probes dominating daily headlines, opposition parties are calling for him to go and the allegations are beginning to weaken him, even within his own ranks, said Eytan Gilboa, director of Bar-Ilan University’s center for international communications.
The probes up the pressure on Netanyahu after last month’s diplomatic debacle at the United Nations, where the Security Council declared Israeli settlements illegal and described land won in the 1967 Middle East war as occupied Palestinian territory. Then came a blistering critique from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who called Netanyahu’s government the most right-wing in Israeli history and said settlers were dictating its agenda.
But what has really electrified Netanyahu’s opponents is the investigation, which is exposing how the premier received valuable gifts from Israeli and foreign businessmen he says are simply generous.
Channel 2 reported Tuesday night that in exchange for passing a law forcing Israel Hayom to charge customers money — a step likely to limit its readership — Mozes promised to do all he could through Yedioth to keep Netanyahu in power. In the end, the press law was never passed and Yedioth continued its sharply critical coverage of Netanyahu and his family.
Police are planning a third round of questioning soon, Israeli media reported Tuesday.
Appearing on a newscast, Netanyahu’s attorney, Jacob Weinroth, did not dispute the reported gifts but said there’s nothing illegal in accepting presents from friends.
“What you have here is improper and relentless pressure from some media platforms on law enforcement authorities,” he said. “I suggest to my colleagues in the opposition not to celebrate because there is nothing to celebrate. Governments are replaced at the ballot box.”
Helping Netanyahu is the fact that his coalition has largely stayed behind him, and there are no obvious replacements on the right. Coalition Chairman David Bitan told Army Radio the premier shouldn’t resign even if indicted, and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman — considered a prime ministerial aspirant from the Yisrael Beitenu party — said he doesn’t believe an indictment is forthcoming.
Even if Netanyahu does survive the legal challenge, he will have to answer to a public exposed to incessant coverage of his alleged improprieties.
“It’s yet unclear how this plays out with voters,” Bar-Ilan’s Gilboa said. “But stories of him smoking expensive cigars clearly do damage.”