Cases 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000: What Is Happening To Netanyahu

Everything you need to know about the cases against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu

- Abeer Kapoor

THE ISRAELI POLICE has furnished evidence that has implicated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu on charges of corruption. It has been alleged that the Israeli Prime Minister acted against the interests of the public. These revelations come in two separate cases called ‘1000’ and ‘2000’ that the Israeli police has been investigating since January 2017. To add to the woes of the Netanyahu administration, there are two more charges of corruption that are under investigation: ‘Case 3000’, and ‘Case 4000’, and each is to do with “bribery, fraud and breach of trust by the Prime Minister”.

Broadly, the two charges against Prime Minister Netanyahu are to do with the first two. In the first, ‘Case 1000,’ the Netanyahus are accused of receiving gifts, money and other items from Hollywood moghul Arnon Milchan and Australian businessman James Packer. It is alleged that Bibi helped them get US visas and ever since he and his supporters have showered them with gifts. These gifts have largely to do with the lavish lifestyle of Israel’s First Family, and the money was used to repair their pool, their flooring, buy jewellery and cigars. Sarah Netanyahu, the wife of the leader, has also been indicted in this case for taking up to $100,000 to throw parties and hire cooks, which are in clear violation of the law. In another incident, Sarah demanded $2,700 worth of jewellery. The prime minister has said that these were just gifts given by a friend, but the police has released evidence that points to there being a pattern, code and structure to the way these demands were made.

‘Case 2000,’ on the other hand, has to do with helping the proprietors of Yediot Aharonot, a large media organisation, squash their closest rival,