Case against Netanyahu won’t be Presented before Election

Israel’s attorney general has acted to correct what many see as a patently unfair procedure in pursuing the investigations against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Under Israeli law, once a decision to indict has been made, the subject of the investigation is given a hearing during which he/she can refute the allegations and in doing so, have the chance to dissuade prosecutors from pursuing the case. But in the case of Netanyahu, the putative defendant is the nation’s prime minister and elections are imminent. As matters stood, the case against him would be reported in detail but his rebuttal would be heard only after the election, a development many across the political divide agreed lacked fairness. On Monday, visiting U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) told The Media Line that he “doesn’t know what is due process in Israel, but at home, [not allowing rebuttal before election] wouldn’t fly.” Also, on Monday, the attorney general announced that details of the cases against Netanyahu would not be released until after the election. He is being charged in three cases with bribery, fraud and breach of trust.