Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rallied thousands of supporters in Tel Aviv Wednesday, as Israeli prosecutors press criminal investigations into charges that Netanyahu and his aides committed bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Netanyahu’s speech to members of his right-wing Likud Party drew comparisons to President Donald Trump’s rallies.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “Both the left-wing opposition and the media, who are one and the same, know this, and they are enlisting now in an obsessive, unprecedented hunt against me and my family, aiming to oust the government.”
Last week, Netanyahu’s former chief of staff agreed to serve as state witness for the prosecution in a case alleging Netanyahu traded political favors for $130,000 worth of luxury gifts, including cigars and champagne. Netanyahu is also reeling from leaked transcripts of secret recordings that show he traded favors for positive coverage from Israel’s dominant newspaper.