Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is negotiating an agreement to end his corruption trial, a source close to the matter said Sunday, but talks have stalled on a condition that would remove him from politics, according to reports. Reuters.
Netanyahu, who ousted power in June after 12 consecutive years as prime minister and is now the leader of the opposition, has pleaded not guilty to bribery, infidelity and fraud in three cases in which he was indicted in 2019. They are all being tried together.
The source said that Netanyahu, now 72, was in talks to reach an agreement with Attorney General Abihai Mantelblit, according to which he would plead guilty to reduced charges and any imprisonment would be commuted to social work.
But the talks came to a halt over Netanyahu’s demand that he escape an “immorality clause” that, under Israeli law, would force him to leave politics for years, the source told Reuters. condition of anonymity.
The Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment. A Netanyahu’s lawyer, who has denied any wrongdoing and accused prosecutors of politically motivated witch-hunting, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Netanyahu has vowed to overthrow his successor, Naftali Bennett, a nationalist who “acrobatizes” a coalition of extremely different parties.
Netanyahu’s Likud failed to form a new government last year in part because related parties refused to join Netanyahu’s coalition, citing the ongoing trial.
If he leaves the legal troubles behind, Netanyahu could theoretically be able to form a new broad right-wing coalition. If he was barred from meddling in politics, the right-wing members of Bennett’s coalition could choose to form a new government with a Likud under new leadership.
The idea for an agreement was put forward by a former Supreme Court justice, Acharon Barak.
He told Kan radio that this would reduce the pressure on the justice system, which has spent years defending itself against allegations by Netanyahu’s followers that they were depriving him of due process.
A spokesman for Netanyahu’s Conservative Likud party said he was not aware of any such talks.
.
Source From: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
