Israel attorney-gen to decide on indicting PM this week

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit is expected to decide whether to indict Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for graft and bribery in three cases next week, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

According to Israeli daily Haaretz, Mendelblit is to release his decision before the end of the week, about 40 days prior to the Israeli elections slated for April 9.

Mendelblit, However, may delay his decision to the beginning of next week, it said.

According to the newspaper, Mandelblit is likely to order the premier’s indictment in Case 4000, in which Netanyahu is accused of awarding favors to Israel’s Bezeq Telecom Company in return for favorable coverage on the company’s news website.

Netanyahu is also expected to be indicted for fraud and breach of trust in Case 1000, which involves Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, who was allegedly asked to purchase luxury items for Netanyahu and his wife.

As for the third case (known as case 3000) that relates to an alleged deal for favorable media coverage with Arnon Mozes, publisher of prominent Hebrew-language daily Yedioth Ahronoth, Mandelblit has yet to determine whether to also try Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, the newspaper added, that the state-comptroller panel gave another blow to Netanyahu’s complicated situation.

The panel on Sunday denied once more Netanyahu's request to receive $2-million funding to cover legal fees from two tycoons, his cousin Nathan Milikowsky and American businessman Spencer Partrich.

Last month, the panel ordered Netanyahu to return $300,000 already provided by Milikowsky, saying that Netanyahu must use his own fund before turning to tycoons for donation.