Israel’s Netanayhu denies ‘baseless’ reports of new scandal

Israeli guards shoot knife wielding Palestinian woman

JERUSALEM, Dec 30, (Agencies): Israel’s prime minister has denied what he calls “baseless” reports that he received gifts from two businessmen.

Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that “all these so-called scandals have turned out to be baseless and the same will be regarding the allegations published in the media now.”

Israel’s Channel 2 TV reported Thursday that Netanyahu accepted “favors” from businessmen in Israel and abroad. It said Netanyahu was the central suspect in a second investigation that also involves family members. It said a criminal probe is expected next week.

An opposition lawmaker is campaigning for Netanyahu to be investigated for corruption over suspicions that donors improperly transferred money for his personal use, as well as reports his personal attorney represented a German firm involved in a $1.5 billion sale of submarines to Israel.

A statement issued by a Netanyahu spokesman said the probe would fail to uncover any evidence against him.

“All the supposed affairs will turn out to be fiction, as will be the claims currently being published in the media ... Nothing will be found because there is nothing to uncover,” Netanyahu’s spokesman said.

Israeli Channel 10 television said on Wednesday that Attorney-General Avihai Mandelblit, who was working with prosecutors and police, had ordered a probe. The report said Mandelblit had authorised police to question Netanyahu under caution in two affairs and that a date for the interrogation would be set in the coming days.

The Justice Ministry said an announcement would be made “in due course”.

Channel 2 television followed up on Thursday by alleging that Netanyahu was suspected of receiving “significant gifts” from a local and a foreign businessman, although it provided no details.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian woman was shot and wounded Friday after approaching an Israeli security checkpoint near Jerusalem with a knife, Israeli police said.

The woman approached the crossing point in Qalandia, between Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, in a lane designated for vehicles despite repeated calls from guards to stop, a statement said. She was wounded when security forces opened fire, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

Police said she was 35 and from Issawiya, a neighbourhood in east Jerusalem.