Netanyahu on Investigation: Don't Celebrate Just Yet, There is Nothing to Find

Jerusalem, 2 January, 2017 (TPS) -- Yesh Atid Party Chairman Yair Lapid said that Prime Minister Netanyahu is innocent until proven guilty, the prime minister’s official residence was surrounded with thick black curtains in order to block prying eyes as police begin their investigation of Prime Minister Netanyahu and the prime minister cautioned political opponents against celebrating his downfall before the investigation is complete.

Police are scheduled to begin the investigation at the prime minister’s official residence Monday at 7 pm.

Speaking a the Likud faction weekly meeting Monday, Netanyahu said “We are seeing reports in the media, we are hearing the cerebratory tone [emanating from] the TV studios and in the halls of Opposition – I would just say ‘hang on, not so fast. I’ve said before and I’ll say it again – there is nothing to find, nor will their be anything. You guys can continue floating trial balloons that are full of hot air, and we will continue to lead the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said.

Yesh Atid Party Chairman Yair Lapid called for a rapid investigation, saying that the natural tension that accompanies a criminal investigation would necessarily impair Netanyahu’s ability to function as prime minister.

“It is natural and expected [to feel pressure],” Lapid said. “[But] the prime minister needs to be focused on other things, not on proving his innocence. I call on all those involved not to drag things out, to devote all the time to this that is necessary… and to allow investigators to get to the truth… if two consecutive prime ministers are brought down by corruption charges it will be very difficult to restore the public’s faith in the state. I remind everybody that everybody in Israel is innocent until proven guilty, and that includes the prime minister. We must let the police do their work.”

Education Minister Naftali Bennett added that there is no reason for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to resign in the face of a police investigation, and noted that a central feature of democratic government is a presumption of innocence.

“I do not believe the prime minister needs to resign just because he is being investigated,” Bennett said during a special Jewish Home faction meeting in Ma’leh Adumim. “The investigation could well end without anything.

“Israel needs governmental stability – it is important for the government to last four years. It takes time to become effective, and this is a good nationalist government,” Bennett said.