Israel’s attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and witnesses in the Israeli leader’s corruption trial.
The Israeli Justice Ministry made the announcement in a terse message late Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the ‘Uvda’ investigative program into Sara Netanyahu.
The program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organise protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial.
The announcement did not mention Mrs Netanyahu by name, and the Justice Ministry declined further comment.
But in a video released earlier Thursday, Netanyahu listed what he said were the many kind and charitable acts by his wife and blasted the Uvda report as ‘lies.’
It was the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the Netanyahus – highlighted by the prime minister’s ongoing corruption trial.
The Prime Minister will answer during his appearances to charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases.
He is accused of promoting advantageous regulation for media moguls in exchange for favourable coverage of himself and his family.
Israel’s attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife
The Uvda program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs Sara Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organise protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial
He is also accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars worth of cigars and champagne from a billionaire Hollywood producer in exchange for assisting him with personal and business interests.
But the Prime Minister told his version of events and shared personal details about his life that he might hope would shape the judges’ perception of him.
He said at the start of his career he would lose sleep over media coverage but learned it had no meaningful bearing – in contrast to the prosecution’s attempts to paint him as image-obsessed.
He said he smoked cigars but could hardly finish them because of his workload, and hated champagne.
Earlier this month he promised defiantly to refute the corruption allegations against him as he began giving evidence in his trial.
Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant at the same time as he faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes allegations.
In a packed Tel Aviv courtroom, Netanyahu portrayed himself as a dedicated leader and a defender of Israel‘s interests, swatting away the charges against him as a ‘drop in the sea’ compared to the challenges he has faced protecting his country.
He also said he could balance appearing at his trial with his duties as prime minister.
Supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold up signs outside Tel Aviv’s court as Netanyahu testifies in a corruption trial on December 10
The charges have divided Israel, sparking protests and a political crisis over his fitness to serve under indictment
Demonstrators protest against Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu outside the court in Tel Aviv
‘I waited eight years for this moment, to say the truth,’ Mr Netanyahu said, adding that his evidence would ‘poke holes in the absurd accusations’.
The charges against Netanyahu have cast another shadow over the country’s longest-serving leader and complicated his legacy.
They have divided Israel, sparking protests and a political crisis over his fitness to serve under indictment.
Netanyahu denies the charges and says he is the victim of a ‘witch hunt’ by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media.
Under Israeli law, indicted prime ministers are not required to step down, but the charges against Netanyahu cleaved deep divisions in Israel.
Protesters have demanded that he resign and former political allies have refused to serve in government with the Israeli leader, triggering a political crisis that led to five elections in less than four years beginning in 2019.
Netanyahu’s supporters view the charges as the result of bias and overreach by the justice system.
Despite the pressure, Netanyahu has rejected calls to step down and has used his position as prime minister to lash out at law enforcement, media and courts.
The trial will be an inconvenient legal spectacle for the Israeli leader at a time when he is still fighting a war in Gaza with no end in sight and as he faces an international arrest warrant over Israel’s conduct during that conflict.