Israel’s attorney general on Thursday confirmed his intention to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in three separate corruption cases, a stunning decision that represents the first time in the country’s history that a sitting premier has been told he faces criminal charges.
In a Justice Ministry statement, Avichai Mandelblit, once a Netanyahu ally, confirmed that he will charge Israel’s political stalwart with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in cases relating to bribes for positive coverage, the acceptance of gifts from billionaire friends and the promotion of regulation favourable to allies in the business world.
The decision throws the longtime Israeli leader’s political future into doubt, as well as his bid to become the country’s longest-serving premier, which he will achieve if he survives in his position until November. It is also dramatically shook Israeli politics less than six weeks before an early election slated as a referendum on Mr Netanyahu’s legacy and called by him as he became mired in an array of legal troubles.
Mr Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing and called a press conference for Thursday evening where he protested his innocence. He claimed that he is the victim of an "unprecedented" political witch-hunt aimed at influencing the April 9 election and said there was no basis to the corruption charges levelled against him.
He reiterated his prediction that the charges against him would collapse like "a house of cards" and said the indictments were only brought before him because "the left-wing pressure has succeeded".
The Israeli leader is entitled to a hearing to challenge the charges, which is likely to take place after the vote.
The evening announcement came despite a last-ditch appeal by Mr Netanyahu’s Likud Party to the Supreme Court to delay the indictment until after the election and followed months of mounting anticipation. Both the police and state prosecutor’s office had recommended indictments and three key sources turned state’s witness.
The hearing will be the first step in another drawn out judicial process. But the development is significant both politically for Israel and personally for Israel’s “King Bibi,” as he’s known.
Mr Netanyahu is now in uncharted territory as the first Israeli prime minister to run and to rule while under indictment. Polls show Mr Netanyahu and his extreme-right coalitions losing significant seats – and therefore the prime ministry – to the leading centrist coalition if indicted. But Mr Netanyahu is also a charismatic fighter who thrives when playing the underdog. By law, he doesn’t have to step down when indicted and the Likud party has pledged to stand by him.
Over the years, Mr Netanyahu has deftly dismissed any criticism of his politics and alleged corruption as smears by a traitorous left and biased media – a mantra that plays well with his large right-wing and religious nationalist base and with illiberal allies like US President Donald Trump.
Back in December, Mr Netanyahu announced early elections in attempt to get ahead of the looming indictment. Last week, he postponed a trip to Moscow to cement an alliance with a fringe party dubbed "the KKK of Israel" and secure more right-wing votes before April's election. Yesterday, though, Mr Netanyahu left his rescheduled meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin early to rush home amid reports charges were coming.
Now back in Israel, the coming weeks will determine whether Israeli voters will gamble on an indicted leader that they know – or close the Netanyahu chapter, at least for now.
"Netanyahu will now be prime minister on notice," tweeted Anshel Pfeffer, an Israeli journalist and biographer of Mr Netanyahu. "Netanyahu will shrug it off and say nothing has changed. But we'll be in uncharted waters and no one has any idea how being a prime minister under notice of indictment will effect Netanyahu and his government."
Mr Netanyahu in remarks to Israeli media yesterday dismissed the bribery charges as “absurd” and warned that the prosecutors’ “house of cards will soon collapse”.
In recent weeks he's been doubling down on social media posts dismissing his key opponent from the center, former Army Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, as a weak leftist that will compromise on Israel's security. Likud has been pushing out online ads accusing the indictment's timing as a conspiracy between the left and media. In the party's appeal to the Supreme Court, they argued the indictment was engineered by "leftist bullies… with the intention of bringing to the downfall of the right-wing government".
A new poll by Israel's Times of Israel, however, projected that Mr Netanyahu's Likud would lose four parliament seats in elections if indicted, while the newly formed centrist Blue and White party, co-led by Mr Gantz, would see a major jump in seats, putting it in first place to form the ruling coalition. Overall, over a quarter of likely Likud voters said they wouldn't vote for the party if Mr Netanyahu is indicted.
Still, in the last elections in 2015, polls also predicted that Mr Netanyahu would lose – and instead he won, infamously on election day warning that the "droves of Arabs… bused to the polling stations by left-wing NGOs". Another recent poll found very high mistrust in the police, Attorney General, and the corruption cases among ultra-orthodox, religious-Zionist and Likud voters.
Mr Netanyahu also maintains his supporters in high places. Yesterday, Mr Trump reiterated his alliance with the prime minister, calling him a “great prime minister… tough, smart, strong”. Mr Netanyahu in turn tweeted out, “Thank you for supporting me, my friend President Trump!”
The last Israeli prime minister facing corruption charges, Ehud Olmert, voluntarily stepped down prior to being indicted after losing his party’s support.
Instead, Netanyahu’s supporters are doubling down on his defence, in what’s perhaps a harbinger for how to fight corruption charges for other world leaders.
"I'm very worried for freedom of the press and freedom of government in Israel if they start indicting people for trying to get good coverage from the media," prominent American lawyer and Trump supporter Alan Dershowitz told Israel's Army Radio.
"I don't know of any other country that has criminalised trying to get good coverage and make that a basis of bribery or any other corruption investigation."
Left Bank: Art, Passion and Rebirth of Paris 1940-1950
Agnes Poirer, Bloomsbury
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
Results
3pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,400m, Winner: Lancienegaboulevard, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Fawzi Nass (trainer).
3.35pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Turf) 1,600m, Winner: Al Mukhtar Star, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
4.10pm: Handicap Dh165,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: Gundogdu, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Speedy Move, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar.
5.20pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Moqarrar, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy.
5.55pm: Handicap Dh175,000 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Dolman, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
List of alleged parties
May 15 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at
least 17 staff members
May 20 2020: PM and Carrie attend 'bring your own booze'
party
Nov 27 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary
Gavin Williamson
Dec 13 2020: PM and Carrie throw a flat party
Dec 14 2020: London mayor candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative
Party headquarters
Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
Winner: Ferdous, Szczepan Mazur (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-3 Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 2,400m
Winner: Basmah, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6pm: UAE Arabian Derby Prestige (PA) Dh150,000 2,200m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Emirates Championship Group 1 (PA) Dh1,000,000 2,200m
Winner: Somoud, Patrick Cosgrave, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
7pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Group 3 (TB) Dh380,000 2,200m
Winner: GM Hopkins, Patrick Cosgrave, Jaber Ramadhan
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Conditions (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: AF Al Bairaq, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
The five pillars of Islam
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
DUBAI%20BLING%3A%20EPISODE%201
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENetflix%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKris%20Fade%2C%20Ebraheem%20Al%20Samadi%2C%20Zeina%20Khoury%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The%20specs
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ASIAN%20RUGBY%20CHAMPIONSHIP%202024
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EResults%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EHong%20Kong%2052-5%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESouth%20Korea%2055-5%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EMalaysia%206-70%20Hong%20Kong%3Cbr%3EUAE%2036-32%20South%20Korea%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFriday%2C%20June%2021%2C%207.30pm%20kick-off%3A%20UAE%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EAt%20The%20Sevens%2C%20Dubai%20(admission%20is%20free).%3Cbr%3ESaturday%3A%20Hong%20Kong%20v%20South%20Korea%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
