Israel
CNN
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Israeli Attorney General Gari Baharav Miara has ordered an investigation into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife, Sarah Netanyahu, following reports that she is suspected of harassing opponents.
Israel’s attorney general said in a statement Thursday that an investigation should be launched into allegations of witness harassment and obstruction of justice regarding the findings of the Uvda program, which aired on Israel-based Channel 12 television last week.
On Thursday, Channel 12 announced the findings of an investigation into Prime Minister Sara Netanyahu’s alleged intimidation of witnesses in her husband’s criminal trial.
The report also alleges that she indirectly harassed the attorney general and deputy state attorney.
CNN has contacted the Prime Minister’s Office for comment.
Hours before the investigation was ordered, Netanyahu defended his wife in a video address released by the prime minister’s office on Thursday, calling Channel 12’s reporting “biased” and “false propaganda.”
He continued: “I’m hoping Channel 12 and other agitation channels will do some research on the left wing. But don’t count on that. It’s never going to happen.”
Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin criticized the attorney general’s order, saying “extreme selective enforcement has once again reared its ugly head.”
“Israelis expect that those who threaten the police chief or call for rebellion will be summoned for questioning, but the General Counsel (AG) and state prosecutor will launch an investigation following gossip on TV. ,” Levin said in a post to X on Thursday. .
Far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir also criticized Baharav Miara. “A person who politically persecutes government ministers and their families cannot continue to serve as attorney general. It is unfortunate that there are still people who bury their heads and refuse to understand this,” he said in a statement. Ta.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s corruption trial first began in January 2020, making him the first sitting Israeli prime minister to appear in court on charges of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery. Reuters earlier reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly denied the charges against him and maintains his innocence.
He is charged in three separate cases. In Case 1000, he is charged with fraud and breach of trust in connection with allegations that he received gifts such as cigars and champagne from a foreign businessman.
In Case 2000, he was also charged with fraud and breach of trust, for allegedly soliciting favorable coverage in one of Israel’s top newspapers in exchange for limiting the circulation of the paper’s main rival. has been accused.
The most serious case, Case 4000, was charged with bribery, fraud, and fraud for allegedly advancing regulatory favors worth more than $250 million at the time to his friend Shor Elovitch, who was a controlling shareholder in a telecommunications company. He has been charged with breach of trust. Bezek Company.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
