News / Palestine

Israeli protesters urge Bibi graft probes to speed up

Sunday, 09 July 2017 7:05 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 09 July 2017 7:21 AM ]

Israelis protest in Petah Tikva on July 8, 2017 to denounce the slow progress in corruption investigations involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Photo by Ynetnews)

Hundreds of Israelis have held a demonstration near Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit’s home to denounce the slow progress in corruption investigations involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The protest, which did not have a police permit, took place in the city of Petah Tikva on Saturday, the 32nd such weekly event near Mandelblit’s home, Ynetnews website reported.

Waving placards reading "free us from corruption” and "Netanyahu is a disaster,” demonstrators shouted slogans such as, "government of the corrupt" and "Netanyahu resign!”

Protester Aliza Hershkowitz accused Netanyahu of dividing Israel, saying, “That's how the worst leaders in history acted."

"I am a grandmother and I decided that I would not sit still as long as I see the corruption around us,” she said. “If there is such corruption, then you have to go out into the streets.”

Israelis protest in Petah Tikva on July 8, 2017 to denounce slow progress in corruption investigations involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Photo by Ynetnews)

Yehezkel Baghdadi, another participant in Saturday’s rally, said, "I have been demonstrating here since day one, driving around with a sign on my car that says 'Bibi the Prime Minister of Thieves'.”

He further stressed that if Israeli opposition leader Isaac Herzog had done what Netanyahu did, the premier would have called for mass protests to kick him out.

“We will slowly bring the people out (to the streets), we will multiply and become thousands,” he added.

Earlier this week, Mandelblit said the two major probes involving Netanyahu, called Case 1,000 and Case 2,000, were “moving forward at high speed” and there would be no short cuts.

"There have been several reports about the outcome of the investigations, but in order for the investigations to run smoothly, those reports shouldn't be verified or unverified as of now because that might open a door to leaks of information which might harm the investigations,” he said.

In Case 1000, Netanyahu is suspected of having received gifts from businessmen overseas.

He is also being investigated in Case 2000 for an alleged media bribery scheme to help Yediot Aharonot newspaper against its competitor Yisrael Hayom in return for favorable coverage of the prime minister.

As the probes proceed, Netanyahu's political standing looks increasingly susceptible.

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