Ending months of speculation, Netanyahu announced Wednesday night that he would invoke a special clause in the Basic Law: The Knesset to ask for immunity, saying he has been unfairly treated by law enforcement officials.
Netanyahu said that he needed the immunity to fight for his innocence against a concerted effort to bring him down by various officials. "I have been framed, law enforcement has singled me out, and witnesses have been extorted," Netanyahu said, citing the "ulterior motives" of law enforcement officials.
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Throughout his speech he touted his government's accomplishments, saying that his past ten years as prime minister were "the best decade Israel has ever had."
Netanyahu's decision means that the Knesset will have to decide whether there are special circumstances that should prevent the indictment against him from going forward.
Because Israel is in the midst of an election campaign, the current Knesset may not be able to convene the House Committee in order to decide on the matter. Even if he does get immunity, it would expire once the new Knesset is sworn in following the March 2 election.
This means that if Likud does not win a governing majority with its allies to secure immunity, he would have to stand trial almost immediately.
Netanyahu is a suspect in three corruption cases. In all three cases in which he is a suspect – Cases 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 – Netanyahu will be indicted for fraud and breach of trust (under Israeli law fraud and breach of trust is one count).
In Case 4,000, on top of the count of fraud and breach of trust, Netanyahu will face an additional count of bribery.
Netanyahu noted in his speech that even if he was to be granted immunity, he would eventually face the charges in court. "I want to destroy the accusations against me in court," he said.
