Israeli PM questioned for 5th time in corruption probe

Nothing will come of investigation, a confident Benjamin Netanyahu asserts

JERUSALEM

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been questioned by Israeli police for the fifth time since being named as a suspect last year amid allegations of corruption.

Netanyahu, who was reportedly grilled for four hours on Thursday, later asserted that “nothing” would come of the ongoing police investigation.

“I say in absolute confidence: there will be nothing because there is nothing,” the prime minister tweeted Thursday night.

In a statement, the Israeli police said Netanyahu had been interrogated for several hours in his Jerusalem residence.

The statement, however, did not provide any more details about the ongoing investigation.

Since last year, Netanyahu has been the subject of a criminal investigation in two separate corruption cases. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

The first case involves Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, who was allegedly asked to purchase luxury items for Netanyahu and his wife.

The second case relates to allegations that Netanyahu struck a deal for more favorable media coverage with Arnon Mozes, publisher of popular Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

Details of both inquiries were included in a document submitted earlier to a magistrate court based on testimony provided by former Netanyahu chief-of-staff Ari Harow.

The court has since ordered a media gag on details of Harow’s ongoing discussions with prosecution authorities.

Israeli public radio has reported that Netanyahu had been presented with testimony provided by Harow during Thursday’s interrogation.

Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, has also been questioned by police regarding earlier corruption allegations.

Sara stands accused of receiving “lavish and inappropriate” gifts from wealthy businessmen and paying bribes to a media mogul in return for favorable coverage.

She, too, has been questioned within the context of an ongoing investigation into accusations that Netanyahu had used state funds for personal expenditures.