Police investigating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have recommended to Israel’s attorney general that he be charged with bribery in two cases, Israeli news media reported on Tuesday.

 Netanyahu, who denies wrongdoing, has been questioned several times since the start of 2017. Police can make only a recommendation; the final decision to indict rests with the attorney-general.

Israeli media have reported that one of the two cases involves the receipt of gifts from businessmen and the other is related to conversations Netanyahu is alleged to have held with an Israeli newspaper publisher about limiting competition in the news sector in exchange for more positive coverage.

Police were due to make the official announcement over their recommendations at 8:45 p.m. (18:45 GMT) and Netanyahu was due to respond with a live televised statement minutes later.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App </s> Benjamin Netanyahu is be be indicted in three corruption cases

The Israeli leader, 69, is reportedly accused of crimes including bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

He is suspected of wrongfully accepting gifts from wealthy businessmen and dispensing favours in alleged bids for favourable coverage by a newspaper and a website.

Israeli TV reported this afternoon that the country’s attorney general intends to indict Mr Netanyahu following a series of long-running investigations. </s> JERUSALEM (AP) - The Latest on decision to indict Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges (all times local):

Israel's attorney general says he has decided to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a series of corruption charges.

Avichai Mandelblit said Thursday he has accepted the police recommendations to file charges against Netanyahu in three different cases, pending a final hearing.

In a Justice Ministry statement, Mandelblit says he plans to charge Netanyahu with bribery for promoting regulatory changes worth hundreds of millions of dollars to telecom giant Bezeq in return for positive press coverage in Bezeq's popular subsidiary news site Walla.

He will also charge Netanyahu with fraud and breach of trust in two other cases. The first involves accepting gifts from billionaire friends and the second revolves around alleged offers of advantageous legislation for a major newspaper in return for favorable coverage.

Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing. He called a press conference for Thursday evening.

Israel is awaiting the attorney general's decision on whether to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a series of corruption allegations.

Avichai Mandelblit is expected to announce his decision on Thursday, after more than two years of intense investigations and deliberations.

An indictment would mark the first time in Israeli history that a sitting prime minister has been charged.

Police have recommended indicting Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three different cases. Mandelblit is expected to inform Netanyahu's lawyers he intends to press charges pending a final hearing for the suspect.

Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing and calls the allegations a media-orchestrated witch hunt aimed at removing him from office. He has vowed to carry on and is deadlocked in the polls ahead of the Apr.9 national elections. </s> Police in Israel on Tuesday recommended that Benjamin Netanyahu, the longtime prime minister, be indicted on charges of corruption and bribery.

The move came two months after Israeli media first reported thatNetanyahu was grilled by police investigators for more than three hours at his official residence on suspicion of receiving illicit gifts and favors from wealthy donors.

"Bibi," as he is known to Israelis, is also accused of working out a deal for favorable coverage with the publisher of an Israeli newspaper called Yediot Aharonot in exchange for backing a bill that would weaken a rival newspaper called Israel Hayom.

"Police have concluded is that there is sufficient evidence against the prime minister on suspicions for the offense of accepting bribes, fraud and breach of trust," a police spokesman said in a statement listening the alleged offenses.

Now that police have made the recommendation, the decision on whether to actually indict Netanyahu rests with Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Mandelblit, 54, is Netanyahu's former cabinet secretary and he has already rebuffed calls to recuse himself from this case.

Netanyahu is no stranger to scandal. But this is the first time he faces the possibility of being formally charged with a crime.

In a televised speech on Tuesday, Netanyahu once again called the charges "baseless" and said "I'll continue to lead Israel responsibly as long as the people of Israel elect me."

The 68-year-old Israeli leader, who is serving his third consecutive term as prime minister and his fourth overall, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Netanyahu even leveled a public broadside last week against Israeli Police Chief Roni Alsheikh, who is leading the investigation.

After Alsheikh told Israeli television that "powerful figures" had hired people to "sniff around" the detectives working on the Netanyahu case, the prime minister accused him of saying "delusional things."

Earlier, after Netanyahu was questioned by police, he tweeted: "There won't be anything because there is nothing." He also decried "years of daily persecution against me and my family."

But Netanyahu and his family's luxurious lifestyle — often at taxpayers’ expense — has also previously come under scrutiny.

Five years ago, Netanyahu was criticized for reportedly spending $127,000 in public funds for a special sleeping cabin for a five-and-a-half hour flight to London for Margaret Thatcher's funeral. That came just months after the Netanyahu family's taxpayer-funded food budget included $2,700 for artisanal pistachio and French vanilla ice cream.

This is a breaking news story. Refresh for updates. </s> Israeli police said there is “sufficient evidence” to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on criminal charges in two corruption cases.

A police statement said there was enough evidence to indict Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in two separate cases.

Speaking on Israeli television, Netanyahu said the allegations were baseless and that he would continue as prime minister.

The allegations, he said, “will end with nothing”.

What are the cases?

One case centres on an allegation that the Israeli PM asked the publisher of a newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, for positive coverage in exchange for help in reining in a rival publication.

Police said the editor of Yediot Aharonot, Arnon Mozes, should also face charges.

In the second case, Netanyahu is suspected of having received gifts from businessmen overseas totalling 1 million shekels (Rs 1.8 crore), including cigars, champagne, jewellery and more, from 2007 through 2016.

The case has focused primarily on Netanyahu’s relationship with Israeli billionaire and Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan.

In exchange for the gifts, police say, Netanyahu tried to advance a tax break that would have benefited Milchan, though he was blocked by the finance ministry.

Police will now pass the evidence to the attorney general, who will make a decision on whether or not to indict the Israeli prime minister. That decision is not expected imminently.

By Israeli law, he is only required to step down if he is convicted and that conviction is upheld through the appeals process to the high court, a process that could take years.

However, he could face public and political pressure to step down much earlier.

His coalition partners, so far, have backed him, saying they will not take down the government over a police conclusion.

Netanyahu has lashed out, attacking the police, the media, the opposition and the left in rallies and on social media. He has often called the investigations against him “fake news,” echoing the language of United States President Donald Trump.

Image: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the allegations were baseless and that he would continue as prime minister. Photograph: Spencer Platt/Getty Images </s> Israeli police said Tuesday they had recommended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu face charges for bribery, fraud and breach of public trust following long-standing investigations into two cases of alleged corruption.

Police issued a statement saying they had "sufficient evidence" to issue the recommendations, which now go to the attorney general for a decision on whether to pursue an indictment against the prime minister. The deliberations on whether and how to move forward are expected to take weeks or even months.

Soon after the news broke on Tuesday night, Netanyahu addressed the nation in a live televised address proclaiming his innocence, saying the police recommendations against him would "end with nothing".

"Over the years, I have been the subject of at least 15 enquiries and investigations," Netanyahu said.

"Some have ended with thunderous police recommendations like those of tonight. All of those attempts resulted in nothing, and this time again they will come to nothing."

"I will continue to lead Israel responsibly and faithfully," he added.

Known as Case 1000, the first allegations detail the “committing of crimes of bribery, fraud and breach of trust by the prime minister, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu”.

Police also named Arnon Milchan – a Hollywood producer and Israeli citizen – as well as Australian businessman James Packer in the accusations, saying that they “over years awarded gifts of various types” including champagne, cigars and jewellery to Netanyahu and his family. Netanyahu’s lawyers have said the presents were simply tokens of friendship and that no quid pro quo was involved.

In all, the gifts were worth more than 1 million shekels ($280,000), the police statement said.

The second accusations, Case 2000, also alleges “bribery, fraud and breach of trust by the prime minister” as well as by Arnon Mozes, the publisher of the biggest-selling Israeli newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth. Police say the two men discussed ways of halting the growth of rival daily newspaper Israel Hayom “through legislation and other means”.

Netanyahu has long denied the allegations, and a prime minister facing such police recommendations – or who has been formally charged with offences – is not obliged to resign.

He is not the first Israeli prime minister to face corruption allegations. Ehud Olmert, who served as premier from 2006 to 2009, served 17 months in prison after being convicted of breach of trust and bribery in 2014. </s> JERUSALEM (AP) — The Latest in Israel after police recommended corruption charges against embattled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (all times local):

Benjamin Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Hadad, says police recommendations of corruption charges against the prime minister are based on "false" statements.

Police said in a statement that Netanyahu had accepted gifts valued at 750,000 shekels ($214,000) from billionaire film producer Arnon Milchan, and in exchange Netanyahu had operated on Milchan's behalf on U.S. visa matters and helped Milchan with the Israeli media market.

Hadad told Israel Radio that the sums allegedly received by Netanyahu according to police were "inflated, incorrect, unfactual, and simply unacceptable."

Hadad says Netanyahu "didn't receive bribes at all. Not in a single day, not in a year, not at all."

He added that the "prime minister never acted in Milchan's benefit on any issue, except for one, that of the visa."

Israeli opposition politicians are calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign following police recommendations that he be indicted for corruption.

Labor Party leader Avi Gabbay says Netanyahu's coalition party allies need to choose between supporting the prime minister and upholding the rule of law.

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, whose Kulanu party is crucial to Netanyahu's government, urged on Facebook that the attacks on police cease, saying the legal system should be allowed to operate "without pressure, from neither right nor left."

Meanwhile, Meretz party leader Zehava Gal-on said Kahlon, the finance minister, and also Education Minister Naftali Bennett — both key coalition partners — should "show Netanyahu the way out."

Ofer Shelah, a lawmaker with the opposition Yesh Atid party, says criticism of his party's leader Yair Lapid — a key witness in the case against Netanyahu — is "an attempt to divert the conversation from what happened."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's allies from the Likud party are rallying to his defense, a day after police recommended the attorney general indict him on corruption charges.

He said on Wednesday that police had committed "an illegitimate act here to attempt a coup d'etat in Israel."

He says "there are things that are forbidden to do in a democratic government and this is one of them."

Culture Minister Miri Regev said the gifts Netanyahu received from American billionaire Arnon Milchan that were cited in the bribery charge were merely "relations between friends."

Regev said in an interview with Israel Radio: "You're allowed to receive presents from friends. To talk about bribery, you've got to point to something that was really done, not just words."

She said there was no need for Netanyahu to step down.

Israeli police have recommended that Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted on bribery and breach of trust charges in two corruption cases.

The development deals an embarrassing blow to the embattled prime minister and is likely to fuel calls for him to resign.

Following the announcement late on Tuesday, Netanyahu angrily rejected the accusations, which included accepting nearly $300,000 in gifts from two billionaires.

He accused police of being on a witch hunt and vowed to remain in office and even seek re-election.

An ashen-faced Netanyahu said in a televised address: "I will continue to lead the state of Israel responsibly and loyally as long as you, the citizens of Israel, choose me to lead you."

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. </s> Israeli police Friday questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a suspect in a third corruption investigation that poses a serious challenge to the embattled leader, who so far has rallied support to maintain power, according to a report from Dow Jones Newswires supplied to EFE.

Police also questioned the prime minister's wife, Sara Netanyahu, regarding the case, conducting the interview at the same time as her husband but in a different location, a police spokeswoman said. </s> Benjamin Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing and insists he has no intention of resigning

Israel's attorney general has said he intends to indict prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges.

Mr Netanyahu is suspected of accepting gifts, including cigars and champagne, from wealthy businessmen and dispensing favours in return for favourable media coverage.

It is the first time a serving Israeli PM has been put on official notice of a planned prosecution.

He could face up to 10 years in jail if convicted of bribery and a maximum three-year term for fraud and breach of trust.

Police had recommended indicting the 69-year-old politician for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three different cases.

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Attorney general Avichai Mandelblit announced his decision after more than two years of investigations.

Image: Attorney general Avichai Mandelblit announced his decision after more than two years of investigations

The latest development comes just six weeks before a closely-fought election on 9 April, in which Mr Nethanyahu is seeking a fourth consecutive term in office.

The actual filing of charges will depend on the outcome of a hearing, which could take place after the contest.

At the hearing, the right-wing leader could try to persuade the attorney general not to indict him.

Mr Netanahu denies any wrongdoing and insists he has no intention of resigning.

He has called the allegations a media-orchestrated witchhunt aimed at removing him from office.

And his Likud party has described the looming indictment as "political persecution".
Israeli police recommend indicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with charges of corruption and bribery. Netanyahu calls the accusations "baseless".