Israel: 'majority against Netanyahu plea bargain'

(ANSA) - TEL AVIV, 17 JAN - The majority of Israelis oppose the possibility that there is an agreement of attitude between the Attorney General and the former premier Benyamin Netanyahu for the accusations of corruption, fraud and abuse of power in the 3 trials against him in Tribunal in Jerusalem. This is indicated by various surveys carried out by the media while contacts between the former premier's lawyers and the Prosecutor's Office are intensifying to reach an agreement which, however, still remains problematic. According to research by TV Kan, 49% of the sample said they were convinced that the Court should reach a decision on the case against a 28% believe that it is Netanyahu's right to obtain a plea deal. Other polls from different media give the percentage of opposers between 46 and 51%.The main difficulty of the possible agreement is linked to the will of the Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to include in the plea agreement the principle of "resonant conduct" which would prevent Netanyahu from continuing political activity. The latter, on the other hand, is decidedly opposed to the fact that while pleading guilty for fraud and abuse of power, it would not accept corruption and therefore political ostracism. The mediation - implemented by the former president of the Supreme Court Aharon Barak - aims for an agreement, leaving the final choice on "dishonorable conduct" to a subsequent decision by the judges of the Court. Meanwhile, the open collection of the web in favor of Netanyahu and his expenses continues: to date - according to the media - almost 2 and a half million shekels (almost 750 thousand euros) have been reached with 13 thousand offers.This sum, however, the expremier cannot dispose of until authorized by the Knesset. (HANDLE).