Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's lawyers sent a letter to Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit on Wednesday, lamenting the "flood of leaks" surrounding the corruption cases involving him.
Netanyahu's attorneys wrote that the leaks were causing "grave harm to the most basic rights of a prime minister."
The lawyers noted that such "biased and partial leaks create a distorted picture designed to turn the public against the prime minister and impose undue pressure on the attorney general."
Police have recommended that Netanyahu be indicted. According to multiple news reports, Mendelblit has already decided that at least some of the cases merit a trial and will soon announce that he has decided to summon Netanyahu for a pre-indictment hearing.
Netanyahu has urged Mendelblit to announce his decision only after the April 9 Knesset election, saying the announcement could unfairly influence voters.
The criminal investigations facing Netanyahu, known as Case 1,000, Case 2,000 and Case 4,000, are expected to cloud the campaign. Case 1,000 centers on expensive gifts Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, allegedly received from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian tycoon James Packer.
Case 2,000 focuses on an alleged deal between Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes, in which Yedioth would soften its aggressive anti-Netanyahu tone in return for the prime minister taking steps to curtail Yedioth rival Israel Hayom's activities, to the financial benefit of Yedioth Ahronoth.
Case 4,000 revolves around allegations that Shaul Elovitch, the controlling shareholder of Israeli telecom corporation Bezeq, ensured positive coverage for Netanyahu on the Bezeq-owned Walla news website in exchange for the prime minister, who formerly held the communications portfolio, promoting government regulations worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the company.
Hours after the letter was sent to Mendelblit on Wednesday, Netanyahu put out a video urging his supporters to ignore the leaks.
"The propaganda will try to brainwash you on a daily business with non-stop leaks and lies," Netanyahu said.
"Leaking information on an ongoing investigation is a criminal offense that is punishable by up to three years in prison, but as far as the media is concerned, everything is fair game in the attempt to impose a left-wing government against the will of the people. This will not work if you make it not work. The ballot box is the answer," Netanyahu said.
