Netanyahu's favours were 'currency', prosecutor says as corruption trial
starts
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[April 05, 2021]
By Maayan Lubell
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli prosecutors
accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of treating favours as
"currency" on Monday at the opening of a corruption trial which, along
with an inconclusive election, has clouded his prospects of remaining in
office.
Netanyahu, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, breach of
trust and fraud, came to Jerusalem District Court in a dark suit and
black protective mask, conferring quietly with lawyers as his supporters
and critics held raucous demonstrations outside.
"The relationship between Netanyahu and the defendants became currency,
something that could be traded," prosecutor Liat Ben-Ari said in
presenting so-called Case 4000, concerning the premier's alleged ties to
the owners of an Israeli news-site.
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"This currency could distort a public servant's judgment."
Netanyahu left before the first prosecution witness testified in the
first such trial of a sitting Israeli prime minister. He has described
himself as the victim of a politically motivated witch-hunt.
Meanwhile, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin began consulting with party
heads on who might form the next coalition government - a toss-up after
the March 23 election, the fourth in two years, gave neither Netanyahu
nor his rivals a clear mandate.
Rivlin told delegates from Netanyahu's conservative Likud party that
ethical considerations could factor in his decision, apparently alluding
to Netanyahu's trial.
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![](../images/040521pics/news_O31.jpg)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wearing a face mask,
looks as his corruption trial resumes, at Jerusalem's District Court
April 5, 2021. Abir Sultan/Pool via REUTERS
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Apr/05/images/ads/current/heartland_lda_030121.png)
"I do not see a way in which a government can be established,"
Rivlin told representatives of centrist Yesh Atid, the largest
opposition party, which hopes to unseat Netanyahu.
"The people of Israel should be very concerned that we may be
dragged into a fifth election."
At Jerusalem District Court, prosecuters sought to establish that
Netanyahu granted regulatory favors to Israel's leading
telecommunications company, Bezeq Telecom Israel BEZQ.TA, in return
for more positive coverage of him and his wife Sara on a company
news website known as Walla.
Former Walla CEO Ilan Yeshua testified that he had been "barraged"
by emailed and text message demands, from both the Walla owners and
Netanyahu confidants, to improve reporting on the prime minister
while playing down or attacking his political rivals.
"How much can you lie?" Iris Elovitch, wife of Walla's owner at the
time and a co-defendant in Case 4000, shouted at Yeshua.
(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Giles Elgood and Angus MacSwan)
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