Bibi reportedly ready to accept plea deal
OPPOSITION leader Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit’s demand that a plea deal in his criminal trial include a clause banning him from public office for seven years, Israeli television reported this week.
“Netanyahu decided to go for a deal and accept the attorney general’s bottom line,” an unnamed associate of the former prime minister told Channel 12 news, referring to the “moral turpitude” designation.
According to Channel 13 news, although Netanyahu is ready to agree to “moral turpitude,” he has not yet informed Mandelblit, as he is not sure the attorney general is prepared for a plea deal.
Following the reports, Netanyahu’s spokesman released a statement that quoted his lawyers saying the former prime minister “has not announced he agrees to moral turpitude”.
Pundits noted the statement’s use of the word “announced” rather than a full denial.
Reports in recent days have said the details of a plea agreement would include dropping the most serious charge against Netanyahu for bribery. It’s claimed the sides have agreed that Netanyahu will not see prison time, and would be sentenced to three to six months of community service.
Netanyahu, who denies all allegations against him, appeared to downplay rumours that he had decided to sign a plea deal.
“Guys, there’s nothing to update you on. If there’s something to update, I’ll update,” a statement quoted him as telling MKs in his Likud party.
The reports followed a meeting Netanyahu and his family held on Sunday with his lawyers to decide whether to accept a plea deal.
Channel 12 on Monday reported the aim of that meeting was to convince Netanyahu’s relatives to accept the decision.
“It’s a good deal that has to be accepted,” Netanyahu’s lawyer Boaz Ben Zur was quoted as saying by Channel 13, vowing to “battle over every detail” in an amended indictment.
The network also quoted Netanyahu’s wife Sara expressing reservations over accepting a plea deal.
“The prosecution is toying with us. They’ll show everyone that Bibi is prepared to admit to crimes, and then they’ll drop the deal. Mandelblit cannot be trusted,” she reportedly said.
Additionally, Channel 12 noted both sides were aware that ultimately the devil is in the details: If the terms of a deal are too lenient, the court may end up refusing to accept it, and if the charges are too severe, the court may demand a harsher sentence than the sides agree to.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid pushed back against reports that a potential plea deal could bring down the coalition that was formed to oust the longtime premier.
Some analysts believe that if Netanyahu withdraws from political life, the government’s right-wing factions could break away and form a coalition with the Likud party under new leadership.
“The government will last, it is not dependent on Netanyahu. It depends on joint action and depends on the fact that we have formed a government that unites Israeli society instead of all the splits, rifts and incitement,” said Lapid.TIMES OF ISRAEL
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