Police arrived at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem late Thursday evening to question Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the 12th time to wrap up the investigative phase of two corruption cases in which he is alleged to be involved – one involves allegedly taking gifts from billionaires, and the second involves trading positive media coverage in the Hebrew daily Yedioth Ahronoth for legislation to weaken Yedioth's rival, Israel Hayom.
Netanyahu was last questioned in August regarding "Case 4,000," in which he allegedly promised the Bezeq telecommunications company – which owns the Walla news site – significant financial benefits in exchange for favorable coverage of himself and his wife, Sara, by Walla.
Investigators arrived Friday at Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem as protesters gathered outside with a large banner bearing Netanyahu's face and the words "crime minister" and chanting slogans calling for justice.
Media reported that Netanyahu is to be questioned concerning two corruptions cases in which police have already recommended indictments. One involves allegedly taking gifts from billionaires, and the second involves trading positive media coverage for legislation to weaken a free daily newspaper.
Police had no immediate comment.
Meanwhile, the trial of Sara Netanyahu regarding a scandal about financial mismanagement at the Prime Minister's Residence is scheduled to begin next week in the Jerusalem Magistrates' Court. According to the indictment, the prime minister's wife inflated the recorded costs of meals she ordered in violation of regulations, which state that food must not be brought in from outside sources when a cook is employed at the residence.
The indictment was filed in June after negotiations for a plea bargain fell apart.
