Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit is worried about the implications of an unsuccessful indictment against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is seeking to postpone decisions on the matter, Israeli media reported Tuesday.
Hadashot evening news quoted an associate of Mendelblit as saying that the attorney general "is worried that if an indictment against Netanyahu culminates with a not-guilty verdict, this would deal a crippling blow to Israel's law enforcement authorities."
He added that in the event that corruption trial involving Netanyahu ends with an acquittal, it would be Mendelblit who will face the consequences, not Israel Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh.
The police are currently investigating two cases involving Netanyahu: Case 1,000, which centers on gifts Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, allegedly received from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and others; and Case 2,000, which focuses on conversations Netanyahu had with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes, during which they allegedly discussed striking an illicit deal by which Yedioth would soften its aggressive anti-Netanyahu stance in return for the prime minister using his influence to curtail Israel Hayom's activities in a way that would benefit Yedioth financially.
Mendelblit's associates say that neither investigation has yet to produce clearcut evidence that implicates Netanyahu in any wrongdoing, prompting Mendelblit to exercise caution and waver on the merits of the two cases.
They also noted that Mendelblit plans to wait for the police to submit their case summary report, in which investigators will state their view on whether there is a sufficient evidentiary basis for an indictment.
Meanwhile, Channel 10 News reported Tuesday that Netanyahu's former bureau chief-turned state's witness Ari Harow has shared with investigators information that implicates the prime minister in Case 1,000.
Harow reportedly told the police that during a meeting between Milchan and Netanyahu, the former asked Netanyahu whether he could use his clout to help renew his U.S. visa, to which Netanyahu supposedly answered by asking if he had brought him cigars. Channel 10 stressed that this was a summary of what Harow said, not exact quotes.
In recent weeks Israeli media has aired uncorroborated reports that the police were expected to submit their findings to the State Attorney's Office within the next few weeks and that it has already been established that there is sufficient evidence to indict Netanyahu for fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes.
According to various reports, the Major Crimes Unit is leaning toward submitting two separate summary reports rather than a single report for both cases.
