Israeli media: Netanyahu confidant to testify against him
Benjamin Netanyahu
JERUSALEM (AP) â Israeli media reported Wednesday that one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's closest confidants has turned state witness and will incriminate him in corruption allegations  the latest in a dizzying series of developments that threaten to topple the beleaguered Israeli leader.
Filber  the former director of the Communications Ministry under Netanyahu  is under arrest on suspicion of promoting regulation worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Israel's Bezeq telecom company. In return  Bezeq's popular news site  Walla  allegedly provided favorable coverage of  Netanyahu  and  his  family.
The reports came shortly after another bombshell allegation that a different confidant attempted to bribe a judge in exchange for dropping a corruption case against  Netanyahu 's wife. Nir Hefetz  a longtime media adviser to  Netanyahu  and  his  family  remains in custody.
The prime minister  who held the communications portfolio until last year  has not yet been named a suspect  though he may soon be questioned.  Netanyahu  has denied all the charges  calling them part of a media-orchestrated witch hunt that has swept up the police and prosecution as well  and has vowed to carry on.
Still  the string of accusations appears to be taking its toll. Senior Cabinet ministers from his ruling Likud party  who until just recently have marched out dutifully to defend him  have largely gone silent.  Netanyahu  himself appeared ashen in a video released late Tuesday calling the claims "total madness."
Aluf Benn  editor-in-chief of the Haaretz daily  wrote Wednesday that "these are the final days of  Benjamin Netanyahu 's rule."
Other leading columnists suggested that if Filber told all he knew   Netanyahu  was probably more worried about avoiding prison than staying in office.
Filber is one of the closest people to  Netanyahu   a loyal aide dating back to when  Netanyahu  first took office in 1996.  Netanyahu 's former chief of staff Ari Harow has also signed a state witness settlement in which he agreed to testify against his former mentor. The collapse of  Netanyahu 's inner circle has spawned rampant speculation that he may step down in return for a deal that offers him amnesty.
"The Netanyahu era is over " he said. "These are not easy days.  Netanyahu 's personal battle for survival has been accompanied by the corrupting of the public service and the harming of the free press."
The latest probes come days after police announced that there was sufficient evidence to indict  Netanyahu  for bribery  fraud and breach of trust in two separate cases.
Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit  a  Netanyahu  appointee  will make the final decision on whether to file charges â a process that is expected to take several months.
 Netanyahu  is accused of receiving lavish gifts from Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer. In return  police say  Netanyahu  operated on Milchan's behalf on U.S. visa matters  legislated a tax break and connected him with an Indian businessman.
In the second case   Netanyahu  is accused of offering a newspaper publisher legislation that would weaken  his  paper's main rival in return for more favorable coverage.
JERUSALEM (AP) â Israeli media reported Wednesday that one of  [TGT] 's closest confidants has turned state witness and will incriminate him in corruption allegations  the latest in a dizzying series of developments that threaten to topple the beleaguered Israeli leader.
Filber  the former director of the Communications Ministry under  [TGT] is under arrest on suspicion of promoting regulation worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Israel's Bezeq telecom company. In return  Bezeq's popular news site  Walla  allegedly provided favorable coverage of  Netanyahu  and  his  family.
The reports came shortly after another bombshell allegation that a different confidant attempted to bribe a judge in exchange for dropping a corruption case against  Netanyahu 's wife. Nir Hefetz  a longtime media adviser to  Netanyahu  and  his  family  remains in custody.
The prime minister  who held the communications portfolio until last year  has not yet been named a suspect  though he may soon be questioned.   [TGT] has denied all the charges  calling them part of a media-orchestrated witch hunt that has swept up the police and prosecution as well  and has vowed to carry on.
Still  the string of accusations appears to be taking its toll. Senior Cabinet ministers from  [TGT]  ruling Likud party  who until just recently have marched out dutifully to defend  [TGT]   have largely gone silent.   [TGT]  [TGT]  appeared ashen in a video released late Tuesday calling the claims "total madness."
Aluf Benn  editor-in-chief of the Haaretz daily  wrote Wednesday that "these are the final days of  Benjamin Netanyahu 's rule."
Other leading columnists suggested that if Filber told all he knew    [TGT] was probably more worried about avoiding prison than staying in office.
Filber is one of the closest people to  Netanyahu   a loyal aide dating back to when   [TGT] first took office in 1996.  Netanyahu 's former chief of staff Ari Harow has also signed a state witness settlement in which he agreed to testify against his former mentor. The collapse of  Netanyahu 's inner circle has spawned rampant speculation that he may step down in return for a deal that offers him amnesty.
"The Netanyahu era is over " he said. "These are not easy days.  Netanyahu 's personal battle for survival has been accompanied by the corrupting of the public service and the harming of the free press."
The latest probes come days after police announced that there was sufficient evidence to indict  Netanyahu  for bribery  fraud and breach of trust in two separate cases.
Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit  a  Netanyahu  appointee  will make the final decision on whether to file charges â a process that is expected to take several months.
 Netanyahu  is accused of receiving lavish gifts from Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer. In return  police say  Netanyahu  operated on Milchan's behalf on U.S. visa matters  legislated a tax break and connected him with an Indian businessman.
In the second case   Netanyahu  is accused of offering a newspaper publisher legislation that would weaken  his  paper's main rival in return for more favorable coverage.