Thursday was a historic day that has sentenced Israeli society to a new, long and highly dangerous time. The decision to indict an accomplished prime minister, who has marched Israel into an era of long-term stability and prosperity and has made it into an important player on the world stage creates a difficult and complicated political situation. Many in the public are disturbed by the fact that this is unwarranted, and Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit's decision further erodes the public's trust in the system.
Was it really a coincidence that former Police Chief Roni Alsheikh made his recommendations to indict Netanyahu right before his retirement? And is it really a coincidence that Mendelblit has launched his emotional melodrama against the backdrop of the last-ditch efforts to form a national unity government? Can all of this really be just a coincidence?
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The Israeli public has been exposed to too many underhanded investigative tactics, and at least with regard to Case 4,000, that alone renders the indictment hollow.
It is unfortunate to see that Mendelblit was unimpressed by the persecution of the prime minister and the unwarranted arrests of various associates, which are reminiscent of dark regimes. There is a sense of disdain over the fact that the indictment reeks of a pre-ordained conviction, fueled by attempts to convict Netanyahu in the court of public opinion using various leaks from the investigations, long before the case ever saw the inside of a courtroom.
It is also sad to see how law enforcement agencies seek to bolster their power of deterrence through the media. It seems that the police are eager to launch investigations against ministers and prime ministers – Netanyahu isn't the first, after all – and that is just unthinkable.
What Mandelblit and his media pundits cannot deny is that there is immediate demand by the public to remove Netanyahu from office. All the public sees is that on Thursday night, the attorney general made a negative contribution to the complicated political situation in Israel.
The way law enforcement has handled all of this is a major blow to democracy.
If the public felt that Netanyahu was guilty of serious and undeniable offenses, I have no doubt there would be a public demand for his resignation and he would have heeded it. But that is not the case.
So if anything, what we saw on Thursday was the culmination of long, coordinated political and judicial ploy to topple the prime minister.
