Beyond Netanyahu: Israel’s major political corruption scandals

Benjamin Netanyahu is the archetypal sitting premier curate successful Israel to basal proceedings aft being accused of corruption, but helium is hardly the lone 1 to person been mired successful specified scandals.

Nearly each Israeli premier ministers since 1996, including Ehud Barak, Ariel Sharon, and Ehud Olmert, alongside Netanyahu, person been investigated connected charges of corruption, arsenic person respective different furniture ministers, Knesset members, and mayors.

Here is an overview of the large corruption scandals successful Israel implicit the past 2 decades.

Benjamin Netanyahu

The sitting premier curate of Israel was indicted successful 3 cases – known arsenic “1000”, “2000”, and “4000” – for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, involving allegedly accepting illicit gifts and trading regulatory favours for affirmative media coverage.

The proceedings is ongoing. Netanyahu admits to taking gifts but claims nary favours were returned.

On Sunday, November 30, President Isaac Herzog’s bureau confirmed that Netanyahu submitted a ceremonial pardon request, saying his ongoing proceedings divides the federation arsenic helium goes connected a spree of attacking neighbouring countries successful the Middle East.

Israel’s then-PM Ehud Olmert speaks astatine the Israeli parliament, October 17, 2007 [Ronen Zvulun/Reuters]

Ehud Olmert

Ehud Olmert, the erstwhile premier curate who served from 2006 to 2009, faced a scope of charges implicit misconduct during his presumption arsenic commercialized minister, communications curate and concern minister.

Olmert resigned successful 2008 – staying connected successful a caretaker capableness for a fewer months – earlier helium could beryllium indicted aft a US businessman, Morris Talansky, testified astir giving Olmert cash-stuffed envelopes successful the 1990s for governmental and idiosyncratic expenses.

Olmert was convicted of breach of spot successful July 2012, of bribery successful March 2014, and of breach of spot successful March 2015. His six-year condemnation was reduced to 18 months successful December 2015.

Ariel Sharon

Ariel Sharon, the erstwhile premier curate from March 2001 to April 2006, was investigated for bribery allegations that real-estate developers and overseas businessmen sought governmental favours from him and his sons successful speech for fiscal benefits.

Despite recommendations to indict immoderate associates, prosecutors yet did not complaint Sharon himself, citing insufficient evidence.

However, his son, Omri Sharon, served situation clip for amerciable fundraising connected to the campaigns.

Israeli erstwhile President Ezer Weizman talking done a circular speaker-phone lying connected his table [File]

Ezer Weizman

Ezer Weizman, who served arsenic Israel’s president from 1993 to 2000 aft retiring arsenic commandant of the Air Force and curate of defence, faced allegations of fraud and breach of spot for receiving ample currency gifts – much than $300,000 from a French businessman – portion serving arsenic a lawmaker and minister.

Weizman resigned from the presidency successful 2000 to debar prosecution.

Although prosecutors determined that Weizman had accepted the money, helium was ne'er formally charged oregon tried successful a tribunal of instrumentality due to the fact that the statute of limitations had elapsed by the clip the probe concluded.

Aryeh Deri

Aryeh Deri, 1 of the founders of the Shas governmental enactment who served arsenic the vice premier curate nether Netanyahu from December 2022 to January 2023, has been convicted of corruption twice.

In 1999, helium was convicted of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust; successful 2022, helium faced charges for taxation offences.

He served astir 2 years successful situation for the archetypal conviction. For the second, helium signed a plea woody successful 2022, resigning from parliament to debar prison.

Despite this, PM Netanyahu appointed him interior and wellness minister, and the parliament passed the alleged “Deri Law” successful 2022 that would bounds the Supreme Court of Israel’s quality to reappraisal the “reasonableness” of authorities decisions.

In 2023, the Supreme Court disqualified him from serving arsenic a curate connected grounds of “extreme unreasonableness” owed to his condemnation connected taxation evasion.