Israel's Netanyahu says he will avoid graft charges

AFP  |  Jerusalem 

Israel's Benjamin has said he would avoid corruption charges after he was questioned in two graft probes.

At a rally near Tel Aviv, he implied police would recommend he be indicted but that there would be no follow-up.


"There will be recommendations from the police to charge me, and then what?" the told a crowd of supporters from his

squad detectives questioned at his residence on Friday, for the seventh time in a nearly year-long corruption probe.

In one investigation, the is suspected of illegally receiving gifts from wealthy personalities including Australian billionaire James

In a second case, allegedly sought a secret pact for favourable coverage with the publisher of the top- selling newspaper.

The purported scheme, not believed to have been finalised, would have seen him receive favourable coverage in return for helping curb Yediot's competitor, the pro- freesheet Hayom.

The 68-year-old has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and says he is the target of a smear campaign by political opponents.

Thousands of Israelis have protested in recent weeks to demand legal action against "corrupt" people in the government and their resignation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, December 20 2017. 04:20 IST