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Progress in negotiations for a plea deal between Netanyahu and Mandelblit, Lieberman: If That Happens - This Is a Political Bang | Israel today

2022-01-15T18:41:26.987Z


Contacts between the opposition leader and the attorney general also gained momentum over the weekend • Mandelblit consulted the retired supreme president, who expressed support for signing a deal only if it included the stigma clause • The finance minister commented on developments: "Netanyahu realized he was losing - and ran to close a deal" • About 200 demonstrators came to protest the deal being drafted near the spokesman's home: "Counselor Ahitophel"


The chances increase that a plea deal will be signed between opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Attorney General Dr. Avichai Mandelblit.

Last weekend, Netanyahu held lengthy consultations with his associates, an official decision has not yet been made, but the round of interviews of Likud MKs last night, including those close to Netanyahu, could indicate that a plea agreement is progressing toward signing.

Contacts between the parties gained further momentum over the weekend and it seems that both sides are interested in closing a deal and putting the affair that tore the people behind them before Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit retires at the end of the month.

Both parties have already agreed on the deal: the 2000 case will be closed, the bribe clause from the 4000 case will be deleted.

Netanyahu will plead guilty to the two remaining offenses - fraud and breach of trust in Case 4000 and Case 1000 and the question of punishment was also agreed upon - service work of three months or less, without imprisonment.

The rock of contention between the parties remains the question of disgrace.

Mandelblit insists that there will be disgrace and this will end Netanyahu's glorious political career.

The latter for his part, for the exact same reason, insists there will be no disgrace, and this will allow him to try to run again for prime minister in the next election.

This is a real step forward as the prosecution agrees for the first time to remove the demand for an actual prison sentence, delete the bribery clause and the 2000 case while Netanyahu is willing to admit serious criminal offenses for the first time after Cable told a committee that "there was nothing because there is nothing."

Mandelbit consulted with former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak, who encouraged them to close a deal, but only if they sign a disgrace.

God

Netanyahu's side knows that no better deal will be accepted and that Mandelblit's optional replacements are imbued with a battle spirit from him.

Mandelblit, for his part, wants to clear the table before leaving office and prevent a long-running trial that will continue to divide the people and undermine the credibility of the justice system.

Netanyahu fears that a confession of fraud and breach of trust will also bring disgrace with them in any case and that even if Mandelblit waives this demand, the court may not approve without disgrace.

Against Netanyahu is the Katsav affair, where the prosecution proposed a generous deal that removed the charge of rape.

Katsav's pride did not allow him to sign the deal that was heaven after the verdict was read.

These are not the same offenses of course, but the deliberation is similar.

Netanyahu may have a sense of pride, but he is known as a prudent person who knows how to calculate risks.

If a deal is signed and disgrace is imposed on his actions, Netanyahu is expected to be deprived of his rights such as a security guard, a car and other conditions as a former prime minister, similar to what happened with Ehud Olmert.

Meanwhile, about 200 people arrived at Goren Square in Petah Tikva on Saturday, near the house of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit.

They came to demonstrate against the plea deal being drafted between former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the State Attorney's Office.

The protesters are demanding that there be no plea deal and the trial continue.

The police took place to secure the demonstration, with a barrier barrier and forces around the square. The demonstrators carried signs that read: "No plea bargain", "Counselor with disgrace", "Ahithophel counselor", "There is no situation for a corrupt plea bargain", "Crying for generations" and more. The demonstrators chanted: "All the people know that Mandelblit is a criminal," "You have a corrupt neighbor," "We will come to you in a dream, we will not give you a minute of rest," "Come on, let me get you out of here," "Shame" and more.


Advocate Gonen Ben Yitzhak, one of the leaders of the Balfour demonstrations, said: "This is a dirty deal. It is filthy because it undermines public trust in the legal systems. Even so, this adviser destroyed public confidence in the law systems. It is impossible for the head of the prosecution to give Netanyahu such a gift to those who persecuted Liat Ben-Ari. We will go to the High Court against the plea deal. "

One of the speakers added: "Netanyahu claimed that this was a case of sewing cases. It is our right as a public to know whether cases were indeed sewn for him or whether he was a corrupt prime minister. Therefore, there must be no plea deal."

Another speaker said: "Mandelblit was Netanyahu's cabinet secretary and therefore he should not make a mitigating deal with Netanyahu."

Signing a deal has dramatic significance also politically.

Netanyahu is the reason why the right has split and he is the glue that holds the government together.

If he moves aside, all estimates are that the current government will disintegrate, the right will unite and return to power without the need to squint from the left parties.

At the end of the week, the Likud also reacted for the first time.

MK Israel Katz, who had already announced his intention to run the day after Netanyahu, said tonight on the program "Meet the Press": "It will be a sad moment if it is this way, I did not think it would get there."

Katz claimed that he intended to form a government and claimed that "there will be a democratic process in which his grandfather will represent a clear alternative.

The change government is waiting for someone to rescue them from this maze. "

The government also responded to things.

Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) was interviewed about the isolation of the program on News 12, and said: "Netanyahu understands that he is losing and is running for a deal."

The finance minister estimated that Netanyahu would continue to fight for a return to power.

Lieberman added that if the chairman of the opposition moves aside, it is a "political bang." However, the finance minister added: "Even within the Likud, the process of electing an heir is a long process.

Of several months.

I hope that this government, which is a good government, will continue to function. "

The assessment among the coalition leaders is that even if Netanyahu signs the plea agreement and leaves political life, it will take a long time for the Likud to elect a person to head him and with whom it will be possible to have contacts.

At the same time there are quite a few factors that estimate that even if it takes months the government may not last until the rotation.

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Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2022-01-15

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