Benjamin Netanyahu questioned again by Israeli police over gifts

Israeli PM is alleged to have accepted ‘favours’ from businesspeople but denies wrongdoing

Benjamin Netanyahu was questioned by police at his official residence. Photograph: Dan Balilty/AP

Associated Press in Jerusalem-Thursday 5 January 2017

Israeli police have questioned the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for the second time over allegations that he improperly accepted gifts from wealthy businesspeople.

Israeli media said investigators had arrived at Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem on Thursday. Questioning on Monday lasted more than three hours. Police had no immediate comment.

Few details of the allegations against Netanyahu have been officially released, with Israel’s justice ministry disclosing only that the prime minister was being questioned “on suspicion of receiving benefits from businesspeople”.

Israeli media have reported that Netanyahu accepted “favours” from businesspeople in Israel and abroad.

Netanyahu has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, portraying the accusations as a witch-hunt against him and his family by a hostile media opposed to his hardline government.

Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu. Photograph: Reuters

He has pointed to previous suspicions raised against him, none of which resulted in any criminal proceedings, as a sign that he has done nothing wrong in this most recent allegation as well. “There won’t be anything because there is nothing,” has been his refrain.

Serving his third consecutive term with a stable coalition government, Netanyahu is on track to become Israel’s longest-serving leader, should he complete his full term in office in 2019. He does not appear to have any serious foreseeable challenger to his rule.

While the investigation is still in its infancy, it could put pressure on Netanyahu to step down. His predecessor, Ehud Olmert, did so in 2008 just months before he was formally indicted on corruption-related charges. Olmert is now serving a prison sentence after being convicted of accepting bribes.

After eight years in office, in addition to an earlier term in the 1990s, Netanyahu has garnered a reputation as a cigar-puffing socialite who is as comfortable rubbing shoulders with international celebrities as he is making deals in parliament.

Scandals have dogged him and his wife, Sara, over their lavish tastes. There have been investigations into the alleged misuse of state funds and an audit of the family’s spending, even including sums spent on laundry and ice-cream. They have denied any wrongdoing.