Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has used a nationally broadcast address to demand that he be allowed to confront live on television the states’ witnesses who have implicated him in three corruption cases.
In a bizarre performance worthy of Donald Trump, Netanyahu suggested that the best resolution to his legal issues, which have cast a shadow over his hopes of re-election, should be a reality TV moment where he faces his accusers.
“What are they afraid of? I’m not afraid. I have nothing to lose,” Netanyahu said, adding: “I’m willing for it to be livestreamed for the public to hear the full truth. I’m confident in my truth.” He described the investigation against him as “biased”.
The speech, which had been billed as a “dramatic announcement”, was the latest effort by Netanyahu to push back against the investigation and the attorney general, Avichai Mandelblit. It has been widely reported that Mandelblit is considering indicting Netanyahu before the elections on 9 April.
Netanyahu also used his national podium to accuse police investigators of ignoring other witnesses he claims could have testified in his favour.
The live statement from the prime minister’s residence caught even seasoned Netanyahu-watchers in Israel by surprise, coming just weeks after he called elections.
Israeli fraud investigators have recommended charges against Netanyahu in three long-running investigations: Case 1000, involving gifts from wealthy businessmen allegedly in exchange for favours; Case 2000, in which he is accused of colluding with a media organisation in exchange for favourable coverage; and Case 4000, involving a major Israeli telecoms company.
While Netanyahu has vociferously denied any wrongdoing – insisting he will continue to serve as prime minister and run for re-election – any indictments announced so close would inevitably prompt calls for him to step aside.
Netanyahu’s televised speech was immediately condemned by the Labor party leader, Avi Gabai. “In a normal country, a prime minister does not behave this way. In a normal country, the prime minister does not attack the law enforcement authorities,” Gabai said.
The leader of the opposition, Shelly Yachimovich, described the speech as “a cynical and pathetic elections speech of someone who is trying with all his might to escape the law”.
During a visit to Brazil last week to meet the country’s new far-right leader, Jair Bolsonaro, Netanyahu insisted that he would not need to resign even if he was indicted.
Netanyahu said: “Israel is a country ruled by law and according to the law,” adding that “a prime minister doesn’t have to resign” because of “a hearing process”.
Commenting on the prospect of an imminent indictment, he said: “If that happens, I won’t resign. Imagine what happens if you oust a prime minister before the end of the hearing process, and at the end of the hearing it is decided to close the case. That would be absurd and a terrible blow to democracy.
“In a democracy, leaders are chosen through a vote, not through a partially completed legal process.”
Monday’s televised address follows a recent poll in the Jerusalem Post that suggested that a slim majority of voters believed Netanyahu should resign if he was indicted pending a hearing before the election.
Only a third of voters polled said they believed he should not resign. However, other recent poll for the Maariv daily suggested that Netanyahu’s Likud party would win the same number of seats even if he were indicted.