The police investigations into the cases involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were conducted "by the book, and did not involve outside considerations," Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit said on Thursday.
The police announced Tuesday that they had gathered sufficient evidence to indict Netanyahu in two corruption probes, known as Case 1,000 and Case 2,000.
Case 1,000 centers on gifts Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, allegedly received from billionaire businessmen Arnon Milchan and James Packer. Case 2,000 focuses on an illicit deal Netanyahu allegedly tried to strike with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes under which Yedioth would soften its aggressive anti-Netanyahu stance in return for the prime minister using his influence to curtail the activities of Israel Hayom, Yedioth's chief rival.
In announcing their recommendations for an indictment, the police said the evidence suggests that Netanyahu's conduct involved fraud and breach of trust (considered one offense under the Israeli penal code), as well as soliciting and accepting bribes.
Netanyahu called the police findings "biased and extreme, and riddled with holes like Swiss cheese."
In a speech at Tel Aviv University on Thursday evening, Mendelblit said the entire law enforcement system had an obligation to act and was acting professionally, with all branches working together.
"I am seeing various attempts to create schisms between [law enforcement] entities," Mendelblit said, touching on reports of alleged tension between the Israel Police and the state prosecution.
"I want to make it clear: The State Attorney's Office and the police are operating as they should. This doesn't mean that there aren't different opinions between the investigative agencies, in these cases as well as others. This is how investigations are conducted. It is important that there be many opinions and positions. The Israel Police is a serious, forthright investigative body. We are all part of the system of law enforcement. I suggest that you look at the reports of tension between investigative agencies with a great deal of skepticism."
Mendelblit also discussed a report aired on Hadashot evening news on Wednesday that the State Attorney's Office had criticized the police for submitting their recommendations hastily.
"The [police] recommendations were issued in accordance with instructions from the attorney general and the state prosecutor," he said. "The case might need additional investigation, but that is the way all investigations go."
Mendelblit said he denied absolutely "that any of the officials involved acted out of outside considerations," and said, "The same standard that applies to every investigation will be applied to Case 1,000 and Case 2,000, as well. … This is the mandate of rule of law."
Mendelblit told the audience that "like the investigation, the process of examining the evidence and making decisions [about whether to file an indictment] will be carried out honestly and professionally, ignoring the background noise and the unacceptable calls to make decisions based on irrelevant considerations. We intend to conduct this process without unnecessary delays while understanding the importance of bringing about a decision in these cases. ... I don't know at this time what the final decision will be.
"I do know that the decision will be made based solely on the evidence and the law. I stress again: Only the evidence will speak. Only the law will decide. No outside consideration will affect the decision. This is our obligation to the country's citizens, to the public interest, and to the rule of law in Israel. This is also my personal obligation toward the citizens of Israel," he said.
On Thursday, Netanyahu left for the Munich Security Conference. Before departing, he told reporters that he and his wife had been touched by the outpouring of love so many Israelis had shown for them, and said he would continue to "serve them and the state" responsibly, with determination and confidence. He said he was sure that in the investigations involving his affairs, the truth would win out.
Kulanu party leader and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon on Thursday reiterated his call to wait for the attorney general to issue his decision on whether or not to indict the prime minister.
"I trust the attorney general, his integrity, his professionalism, just as I trust the integrity and professionalism of the Israel Police, the State Prosecutor's Office, and the rest of the law enforcement system," Kahlon said.
"I ask everyone, from both the Right and the Left of the political map, to stop attacking law enforcement and let them do their job. We will receive the best result if we let them do their job."
