Benjamin Netanyahu, ex-Israel Prime Minister, seeking plea deal in corruption case

Former Israel Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu is negotiating a plea deal in his corruption case, a person involved
in the talks said Sunday.

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The deal, which could be signed as early as
this week, could usher Netanyahu off the Israeli political stage for years,
paving the way for a leadership race in his Likud party and shaking up Israeli
politics. Any deal could spare Netanyahu an embarrassing and protracted trial
over an issue that has gripped the nation and risks tarnishing his legacy.

Reports of a deal angered critics who said it would undermine the rule of law.

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“The man who worked to destroy the public’s
trust in the foundations of democracy for personal reasons is not eligible for
deals,” Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz tweeted. He was referring to
Netanyahu’s attempts after he was indicted to cast doubt on Israel’s justice
system, saying it was biased and pursuing a witch hunt against him.

Demonstrators gathered against the
developing deal outside the attorney general’s house Saturday evening. Any deal
will likely be challenged in court.

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A spokesman for Netanyahu declined to
comment.

Netanyahu
is facing fraud trial

Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of
trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases. The former premier, now
opposition leader, denies wrongdoing.

The person involved in the negotiations
said the plea deal would drop the bribery and fraud charges and scrap one case
entirely.

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The person asked for anonymity because he
wasn’t authorized to discuss the details of the talks. He said a plea deal
would likely be announced in the coming days.

The person said a number of elements
remained unresolved, including the inclusion of the charge of “moral
turpitude,” which under Israeli law would ban Netanyahu from politics for seven
years. They were also deliberating whether Netanyahu would be forced to do
community service under the deal.

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Including “moral turpitude” would challenge
Netanyahu’s vows to return to lead the country after his 12-year reign was
ended last year by a coalition of ideologically disparate parties with little
in common other than its opposition to his leadership. But Netanyahu, dubbed a
political wizard for his ability to survive repeated attempts at ending his
rule, could make a comeback when the ban expires. He would be nearly 80.

Likud
party looking for a new leader

His departure from the political scene
would set off a leadership race in the Likud party, with several lawmakers
already promising to run. Likud isn’t expected to remain as dominant without
Netanyahu, but would still be a major force under a new leader.

With Netanyahu gone, the more nationalist
elements of the coalition could decide to break off from the fragile union and
opt to join forces with their ideological brethren.

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Netanyahu is charged in three separate
cases. The first alleges that Netanyahu received gifts worth hundreds of
thousands of dollars from wealthy associates.

In the second case, Netanyahu is accused of
orchestrating positive coverage in a major Israeli paper in exchange for
promoting legislation that would have harmed the news outlet’s chief rival, a
free pro-Netanyahu daily.

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The third, nicknamed Case 4000, alleges
that Netanyahu promoted legislation worth hundreds of millions of dollars to
the owner of Israeli telecom giant Bezeq in exchange for positive coverage on
its Walla news site.