Editing Benjamin Netanyahu (section)

====Criminal investigations and indictment====
{{Main|Trial of Benjamin Netanyahu}}
Since January 2017, Netanyahu has been investigated and questioned by Israeli police in two cases, "Case 1000" and "Case 2000". The two cases are connected. In Case 1000, Netanyahu is suspected of having obtained inappropriate favors from businessmen, including [[James Packer]] and Hollywood producer [[Arnon Milchan]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Amnon Abramovich |url=http://reshet.tv/item/news/politics/politics/suspected-of-accepting-favors-82058/ |script-title=he:תיק הבדיקה נגד נתניהו נחשף: ראש הממשלה חשוד בקבלת טובות הנאה |language=he |trans-title=Examination file against Netanyahu revealed: Prime Minister is suspected of receiving favors |publisher=[[Reshet]] |access-date=29 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230091611/http://reshet.tv/item/news/politics/politics/suspected-of-accepting-favors-82058/ |archive-date=30 December 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/06/netanyahu-questioned-israeli-police-second-time-graft-probe/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/06/netanyahu-questioned-israeli-police-second-time-graft-probe/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |date=6 January 2017 |access-date=4 May 2020 |agency=Associated Press |title=Netanyahu questioned by Israeli police for a second time in graft probe|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Case 2000 involves alleged attempts to strike a deal with the publisher of the ''Yedioth Ahronot'' newspaper group, [[Arnon Mozes]], to promote legislation to weaken Yedioth's main competitor, [[Israel Hayom]], in exchange for more favorable coverage of Netanyahu.

On 3 August 2017, Israeli police confirmed for the first time that Netanyahu was suspected of crimes involving fraud, breach of trust, and bribes in cases "1000" and "2000".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/benjamin-netanyahu-suspected-bribery-fraud-israel-police/ |title=Benjamin Netanyahu suspected of bribery, fraud, Israeli police say |work=CBS News |agency=Associated Press |date=4 August 2017 |access-date=4 May 2020 |archive-date=28 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428144321/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/benjamin-netanyahu-suspected-bribery-fraud-israel-police/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The next day, it was reported that the prime minister's former chief of staff, [[Ari Harow]], had signed a deal with prosecutors to testify against Netanyahu in these cases.<ref>{{cite news |first=Revital |last=Hovel |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/former-netanyahu-aide-reaches-deal-to-become-state-s-witness-1.5440062 |title=Former Netanyahu Aide Ari Harow Reaches Deal to Become State's Witness |work=Haaretz |date=4 August 2017 |access-date=4 May 2020 |archive-date=28 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428144326/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/former-netanyahu-aide-reaches-deal-to-become-state-s-witness-1.5440062 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Jerusalem demonstrations 06.jpg|thumb|[[Protests against Benjamin Netanyahu (2020)|Israelis protest against Netanyahu]] outside [[Beit Aghion|his official residence]] in Jerusalem on 30 July 2020]]
On 13 February 2018, Israeli police recommended that Netanyahu be charged with corruption. According to a police statement, sufficient evidence exists to indict the prime minister on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in the two cases. Netanyahu responded that the allegations were baseless and that he would continue as prime minister.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43051249|title=Israel PM Netanyahu faces corruption charges|date=13 February 2018|publisher=BBC News|access-date=13 February 2018|language=en-GB|archive-date=29 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329035934/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43051249|url-status=live}}</ref> On 25 November 2018, it was reported that Economic Crimes Division Director Liat Ben-Ari recommended indictment for both cases.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Report-Netanyahus-prosecutor-recommends-indictment-in-two-cases-572785|title=Report: Netanyahu's prosecutor recommends indictment in two cases|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=26 November 2018|archive-date=29 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329042733/https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Report-Netanyahus-prosecutor-recommends-indictment-in-two-cases-572785|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 28 February 2019, the Israeli attorney general announced his intent to file indictments against Netanyahu on bribe and fraud charges in three different cases.<ref name="indictments">{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-indicted-bribe-fraud-charges-n977571|title=Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be indicted on corruption charges|date=28 February 2019|access-date=28 February 2019|publisher=NBC News|archive-date=28 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328174958/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-indicted-bribe-fraud-charges-n977571|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="toi21nov">{{cite news |last1=Wootliff |first1=Raoul |date=21 November 2019 |title=AG announces Netanyahu to stand trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/ag-announces-netanyahu-to-stand-trial-for-bribery-fraud-and-breach-of-trust/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028182456/https://www.timesofisrael.com/ag-announces-netanyahu-to-stand-trial-for-bribery-fraud-and-breach-of-trust/ |archive-date=28 October 2023 |access-date=22 November 2019 |work=[[The Times of Israel]]}}</ref> Netanyahu was formally indicted on 21 November 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/netanyahu-charged-bribery-fraud-corruption-israel-election-1.8137771|title=Netanyahu Charged With Bribery, Fraud and Breach of Trust, Capping a Dramatic Political Year|last=Bandel|first=Netael|date=21 November 2019|work=[[Haaretz]]|access-date=22 November 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191122005301/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/netanyahu-charged-bribery-fraud-corruption-israel-election-1.8137771|archive-date=22 November 2019|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/21/israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-indicted-for-bribery-and|title=Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu indicted for bribery and fraud|last=Holmes|first=Oliver|work=The Guardian|date=21 November 2019|access-date=21 November 2019|archive-date=18 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518001350/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/21/israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-indicted-for-bribery-and|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|page=A1 |work=The Wall Street Journal |title=Israel's Netanyahu Is Indicted on Bribery and Fraud Charges | author1=Felicia Schwartz |author2=Dov Lieber |date=22 November 2019 |volume=CCLXXIV |number=123}}</ref> If Netanyahu is convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison for bribery and a maximum of three years for fraud and breach of trust.<ref>{{Cite web|first=David M.|last=Halbfinger|title=Israel's Netanyahu Indicted on Charges of Fraud, Bribery and Breach of Trust|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/21/world/middleeast/netanyahu-corruption-indicted.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121164012/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/21/world/middleeast/netanyahu-corruption-indicted.html |archive-date=21 November 2019 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|newspaper=The New York Times|date=21 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.trust.org/item/20191121161354-9wsxc/|title=Israel's attorney general indicts PM Netanyahu on corruption charges|last1=Heller|first1=Jeffrey|last2=Williams|first2=Dan|date=21 November 2019|agency=[[Reuters]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20191122013305/https://news.trust.org/item/20191121161354-9wsxc/|archive-date=22 November 2019|access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref> He is the first sitting prime minister in Israel's history to be charged with a crime.<ref name="toi21nov" /><ref name="haaretznov23" /><ref name="toinov23">{{Cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=23 November 2019 |title=Netanyahu said set to give up 4 ministry portfolios after charges announced |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-said-set-to-give-up-4-ministry-portfolios-after-charges-announced/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028182549/https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-said-set-to-give-up-4-ministry-portfolios-after-charges-announced/ |archive-date=28 October 2023 |access-date=23 November 2019 |work=The Times of Israel}}</ref> On 23 November 2019, it was announced that Netanyahu, in compliance with legal precedent set by the Israeli Supreme Court in 1993,<ref name="haaretznov23">{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-netanyahu-to-relinquish-ministerial-portfolios-in-coming-days-1.8166032|title=Netanyahu to Relinquish Ministerial Portfolios in Coming Days|first=Chaim|last=Levinson|publisher=Haaretz|date=23 November 2019|access-date=23 November 2019|archive-date=26 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126001204/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-netanyahu-to-relinquish-ministerial-portfolios-in-coming-days-1.8166032|url-status=live}}</ref> would relinquish his agriculture, health, social affairs and diaspora affairs portfolios.<ref name="haaretznov23" /><ref name="toinov23" /> The matter of forcing a prime minister to resign due to an indictment has yet to be tested in court.<ref name="haaretznov23" /><ref name="toinov23" /> He was officially charged on 28 January 2020.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/28/netanyahu-withdraws-immunity-from-prosecution-request|title=Netanyahu indicted in court after removing immunity request|date=28 January 2020|work=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=28 January 2020|archive-date=28 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128100001/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/28/netanyahu-withdraws-immunity-from-prosecution-request|url-status=live}}</ref>

Netanyahu's criminal trial was set to begin on 24 May 2020, having been initially scheduled for March of that year but delayed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Was-the-delay-of-Netanyahus-trial-cynical-or-legal-analysis-621051|title=Was the delay of Netanyahu's trial cynical or legal? – analysis|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=15 March 2020|archive-date=15 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315153019/https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Was-the-delay-of-Netanyahus-trial-cynical-or-legal-analysis-621051|url-status=live}}</ref> As of April 2023, [[Trial of Benjamin Netanyahu|the criminal trial]] was still ongoing.<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 April 2023 |title=What is the latest on Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial? |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/what-is-the-latest-on-benjamin-netanyahus-corruption-trial/articleshow/99808082.cms?from=mdr |access-date=1 May 2023 |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=1 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501075332/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/what-is-the-latest-on-benjamin-netanyahus-corruption-trial/articleshow/99808082.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live }}</ref>