Israel makes arrests in new probe linked to Netanyahu case

Several suspects have been arrested by the Israeli police in a new probe linked to a wider corruption case involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

A police statement said Sunday that those arrested were “senior figures” of the Bezeq communications group, the largest telecommunication company operating in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The statement would not elaborate on further details but said the officials were arrested as part of a new joint investigation with the Israel Securities Authority, the body which has been probing allegations of corruption against Netanyahu.

Bezeq said it had no additional information on the new probe while Netanyahu’s office denied the new allegations.

Media reports said the new probe was linked to ongoing investigations about Netanyahu’s involvement in an affair with Bezeq in which the premier received positive coverage on the Bezeq-affiliated news website Walla in return for giving concessions to the communications company.

Police said earlier this week that there was ample evidence for bringing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust against Netanyahu. The Israeli premier faces similar allegations of seeking favorable coverage in the top-selling newspaper Yediot Aharonot. The publisher of the daily, Arnon Moses, who is believed to have reached a deal with Netanyahu, could also be indicted over bribery.

It is now up to the regime’s attorney general to decide whether to indict Netanyahu based on police recommendations. Although such a process could take months, it could inflict a huge blow to Netanyahu’s aspirations for remaining in power. He has denied all of the allegations, saying they are part of wider political game to oust him. The premier has also refused to step down from his post as many say his position is no longer tenable in light of the recurrent corruption scandals.

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