Investigators with the Israel Police Major Crimes Unit questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday over his alleged dealings with the country's largest telecommunication company.
This is the third time that Netanyahu, who held the government's communications portfolio until last year, was questioned in the case.
A small number of protesters gathered near the entrance to the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem as police officers pulled up to the gate, calling on Netanyahu to resign.
The investigation, dubbed Case 4,000, centers on potentially illicit dealings and conflict of interest involving Israeli telecom corporation Bezeq and the Walla news website, which Bezeq owns. The police allege that Bezeq controlling shareholder Shaul Elovitch ensured positive coverage by Walla for Netanyahu, in exchange for the prime minister promoting government regulation worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the company.
A police source familiar with the case said investigators planned on confronting Netanyahu with evidence provided by one of the state's witnesses in the case.
Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the accusations as a media witch hunt.
In February, police recommended Netanyahu be charged with bribery in two other cases. Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit is still weighing whether to indict him.
The first investigation, known as Case 1000, centers on gifts Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, allegedly received from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian tycoon James Packer.
The other, Case 2000, involves 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 ways that would benefit Yedioth financially.
In both those cases, Netanyahu maintains he has committed no crimes.
