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Israeli Attorney General Ready to Indict PM Netanyahu 'Without Hesitation'

© REUTERS / Ronen ZvulunIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem February 11, 2018
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem February 11, 2018 - Sputnik International
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Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit earlier praised the probe into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over corruption allegations and is continuing to defend police from critics' attacks.

Mandelblit stressed that although it was unpleasant to indict any government minister, if he had to do it, he would bring Netanyahu to trial "without hesitation."

Speaking at a conference at Tel Aviv University, the attorney-general said that he knew Netanyahu well, but Mandelblit's decision was made on a purely professional level.

READ MORE: Israeli Police to Interrogate Netanyahu Over Multiple Abuse of Power Charges

Mandelblit's speach comes after police recommended that the Israeli Prime Minister should be indicted this week on bribery and breach of trust charges in two corruption scandals, the investigation into which started over a year ago. Now the attorney-general will have to review the police material before deciding whether to file charges.

Israelis take part in a demonstration titled the March of Shame, as they protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and government corruption in the coastal city of Tel Aviv on December 23, 2017 - Sputnik International
'Bibi Go Home!': Thousands Protest Against Netanyahu Government Corruption
Mandelblit praised the work done by the police, noting that "the investigations were carried out by the book, exactly as is expected by law enforcement authorities dealing with cases like these: professionally, thoroughly, creatively and with sophistication, with the aim of getting to the truth."

The police probe provoked a barrage of criticism from Netanyahu's supporters, who insisted that the police were orchestrating a coup d'etat in Israel. The Prime Minister denied the allegations of graft, calling them "biased" and "aggressive."

READ MORE: Netanyahu Confidant Yitzhak Molcho Interrogated in Submarine Corruption Probe

In this Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017 file photo, a man holds up a poster during a weekly protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seen on the poster, in front of the home of Israel's attorney general Avichai Mandelblit, in Petah Tikva, Israel. With a slew of corruption scandals closing in on him, Netanyahu is increasingly dropping what remains of his statesmanlike persona in favor of nationalist rhetoric popular with his base. By cozying up to conservatives, anti-migrant voices and West Bank settlers, Netanyahu appears to be trying to reframe the corruption allegations as an ideological witch-hunt. - Sputnik International
Bibi Corruption Case Continues: Police Ready to Charge Netanyahu With Bribery
Netanyahu was accused of receiving nearly $300,000 in gifts from Hollywood tycoon Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer. According to the police, they might have benefitted from Netanyahu’s assistance in obtaining a US visa, advancing a free-trade zone adjacent to the Jordanian border or by receiving shares of a local television news channel.

In the second case, Netanyahu arranged to obtain favorable coverage from the popular broadsheet newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth in return for creating problems for its rival, Israel Hayum.

The Israeli Prime Minister slammed the police probe against him, saying it was "like Swiss cheese": full of holes, emphasizing that the truth would eventually come out.

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