Israel’s longest-serving prime minister battles criminal charges amid political turmoil

Benjamin Netanyahu is not only Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, but he is also the first Israeli prime minister who is currently facing criminal charges. This case has been ongoing for nearly a decade, making it the basis of The Bibi Files. The Israel Police began investigating Netanyahu in December 2016. Netanyahu was indicted on 21 November 2019 for three cases: Case 1000, Case 2000, and Case 4000.

The charges against Netanyahu include breach of trust, bribery, and fraud. Netanyahu denies all the charges against him, calling it a politically orchestrated “witch hunt.” Case 1000 — The Gifts AffairIn this case, Netanyahu is accused of receiving illegal gifts from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, including Cuban cigars and pink champagne, amounting to $200,000. In return, Netanyahu helped Arnon Milchan obtain a visa for the United States. In addition, he helped Arnon Milchan obtain a tax law that would give him a tax deduction if he moved back to Israel. Arnon Milchan, a mogul who owns a production company for Netflix, and Australian billionaire James Packer are accused of giving Netanyahu the illegal gifts. Netanyahu faces a charge of fraud and breach of trust. The sentence for this charge is a maximum of three years.Case 2000 — The Media DealIn this case, Netanyahu faces a charge of fraud and breach of trust. The case accuses Netanyahu of making a deal with Arnon Mozes, the publisher of Israel’s daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, from 2008 to 2014.

In this deal, Netanyahu received favorable media coverage from Yedioth Ahronoth. In exchange, Netanyahu agreed to enact a law that would limit the distribution of Yedioth Ahronoth’s chief competitor, Israel Hayom. Mozes faces a charge of attempted bribery.Case 4000 — The Most Serious ChargeThe most serious charges against Netanyahu are contained within Case 4000. This includes a bribery charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years. Netanyahu is accused of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery by providing favors to the Israeli telecommunications firm Bezeq, which is owned by Shaul and Iris Elovitch. In return, the Elovitch couple allowed Netanyahu to control the coverage on the news website they owned, Walla. The trial has been delayed due to Covid-19, followed by the Gaza war. However, according to many, including those who are featured in the film, the delays are not an accident. In the film, insiders say that Netanyahu introduced the controversial judicial reform plan to prevent his trial, willing to destabilize the security of the state to avoid going to jail.

Netanyahu’s cross-examination continues with Case 4000, having listened to months of cross-examination on Case 1000. The prosecution is attempting to undermine Netanyahu’s credibility, having stated that he did not remember relevant information on 1,778 occasions during police interrogations, relating to Case 4000. The outcome is still uncertain, but one thing is for sure: the case has already altered the democratic process, sparked massive protests, and, through The Bibi Files, become the story that the entire world is watching.