Israel’s attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and witnesses in the Israeli leader’s corruption case.
Israel’s Justice Ministry made the announcement in a brief message late Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of the “Uvda” investigative program’s recent report on Sarah Netanyahu. The program uncovered a group of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs. Netanyahu appeared to instruct a former aide to organize demonstrations against political opponents and to threaten Hadas Klein, a key witness in the case.
Mrs. Netanyahu was not named in the announcement, and the Justice Ministry declined to comment further.
But in a video released earlier Thursday, Netanyahu cited the many kind and charitable acts his wife had done and called the Uvda report a “lie.” It was the latest in a long line of legal problems for Netanyahu – highlighted by the prime minister’s ongoing corruption trial.
Netanyahu has been accused of fraud, breach of trust and bribery, and accused of exchanging favors with powerful media moguls and wealthy allies. Netanyahu has denied the charges, saying he was the victim of a “witch hunt” by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media.
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