Netanyahu accuses media of ‘coup plot’

ISRAEL: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the media and political opponents of plotting ‘‘a coup’’ against him as he tried to rally his supporters in the face of a series of corruption investigations.

Netanyahu is being investigated by police for bribery and fraud and has faced a week of torrid headlines, including reports that his wife Sara may soon be prosecuted, and that one of his former senior aides is giving evidence against him.

However, Netanyahu was defiant as he addressed his Likud Party, saying that opponents who could not defeat him at the ballot box were trying to hound him out of office through the courts.

‘‘Both the Left and the media – and that’s the same thing, know this – are taking part in an unprecedented, obsessive witch hunt campaign against me and my family with the goal of staging a coup,’’ Netanyahu said.

‘‘Their goal is to apply improper and incessant pressure on the law enforcement agencies so that they bring charges at any cost, regardless of the truth, without any connection to justice.’’

Netanyahu adopted some of the language of United States President Donald Trump as he accused the Israeli press of ‘‘fake news’’.

He also targeted Haaretz, Israel’s leading liberal newspaper, just as the US president continually criticises The New York Times.

His speech delighted the Likud faithful, who call him by his nickname ‘‘Bibi’’ and often jokingly refer to him as ‘‘the king of Israel’’.

‘‘We have problems,’’ said David Bitan, one of Netanyahu’s closest Likud allies.

‘‘Some of the problems are a result of people who don’t want to go public, and some are a result of some people who don’t know how to protect the prime minister.’’

– Telegraph Group