This past weekend was particularly tense for the Likud party following Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit's announcement on Thursday that he plans to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in three cases of alleged corruption.
Following Mendelblit's announcement of the counts on which he intends to indict Netanyahu, pending a pre-indictment hearing, Netanyahu summoned several Likud ministers and MKs to his residence in Jerusalem to discuss what the Likud's campaign strategy will be, given the shadow of the looming indictments.
Those present included Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis, MK Amir Ohana, coalition chairman David Amsalem, former coalition chairman David Bitan, party candidate Nir Barkat and various members of the campaign staff. When the meeting was over, participants said the atmosphere had been positive and that they would be "going to war."
The meeting opened with a discussion of the legal issues presented by Mendelblit's decision to indict Netanyahu, pending a hearing. The MKs were told – and asked to pass on in any media appearances they would be making this week – that Mendelblit and State Attorney Shai Nitzan had buckled to pressure from left-wing activists and the media to indict Netanyahu.
The participants in the meeting were reminded of the meetings Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and former Hatnuah leader Tzipi Livni held with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon "Noni" Mozes, and the fact that none of the 43 MKs who had supported a bill designed to shut down Israel Hayom – initiated at the prompting of Mozes – had been investigated. The participants were also reminded of the case against former State Attorney Ruth David, who was suspected of accepting illicit gifts, which was closed.
"There is one law for Netanyahu and another law for everyone else," one participant said.
According to one of the people in the meeting, "The prime minister looks sure of himself about the attorney general's decision. He is convinced that he will blow apart the allegations during the hearing."
The second part of the meeting focused on political matters, particularly an ongoing attempt to brand the Blue and White list, headed by former IDF chief Benny Gantz, as left-wing.
When the meeting was over, Akunis said, "The 2019 election will decide the main question – Bibi or [Arab MK Ahmad] Tibi. The weekend polls, which gave 61 seats to the Left under Gantz and Lapid – but only with the support of the Arab parties – are clear proof that in contrast to the lies being spread by the Blue and White party, they would have no government without Tibi, MK Ayman Odeh, and their pals.
"Anyone who is willing to see members of the Arab parties in the government and the coalition should vote for Gantz, Lapid, and [Moshe] Ya'alon. It's a close race that will decide the fate of the Land of Israel for years to come," Akunis said.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu's attacks on the State Attorney's Office last Thursday were met less than enthusiastically by the judicial system. Speaking after Mendelblit announced his decision, Netanyahu accused Nitzan of "selective law enforcement" and Tel Aviv District Attorney Liat Ben-Ari of having frozen an investigation against Tzipi Livni after the Knesset election was brought forward.
Actually, a court at the time overruled a decision that Nitzan was enforcing the law selectively. Livni herself was never a suspect in the case in which suspicions about the Kadima party were being investigated, and Ben-Ari was never involved in any decisions about that case.
"Netanyahu chose to make an incorrect use of facts to sully the reliability of the State Attorney's office and claim that it has ties to the Left," officials in the legal system said over the weekend, mentioning that Nitzan had been at the office for some 30 years and had appeared before the High Court of Justice many times to defend the government's position on issues such as demolishing homes of terrorists; deporting terrorists; and in favor of construction in Judea and Samaria.
Mendelblit also sent a letter of thanks to the 23 prosecutors who were part of the Netanyahu cases.
"This is certainly not a happy day but it is a very important day for a society that upholds the rule of law," Mendelblit wrote.
"The debates were handled outstandingly and I am proud of you and the work process you led. Without your devoted, professional work, I would not have been able to fulfill my obligation to the citizens of the country," Mendelblit's letter said.
Meanwhile, other factions continued to criticize Netanyahu's conduct after Mendelblit made his announcement about the planned indictments.
Speaking at a town hall event in Modiin on Saturday, chairman of the Labor Party Avi Gabbay said, "The election campaign is about the life of Prime Minister Netanyahu vs. the life of the state. I am very disturbed by what will happen here by the time the election is held," Gabbay said.
"Netanyahu is doing everything to save himself from an indictment. He wants to win the election so he can pass the 'French Law' and anchor his freedom, so he could do anything," Gabbay added.
Blue and White list candidate Maj. Gen. (res.) Orna Barbivai said at a different town hall meeting in Nes Ziona that "a prime minister who is elected to serve the citizens, but who is busy handling his defense against such serious indictments that involve corruption, must step aside and allow the ruling party to deal with the burning issues in Israeli society."
