politics

The U.S. Administration – Friend or Foe of Israel?

May 12, 2024 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

“It will come about on that day
that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples;
all who lift it will injure themselves severely.
And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.”

Zechariah 12:3 NAS

Pledging Total Victory over Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still pledging “total victory” against the Palestinian jihadists of Hamas.

“We will finish the task with our brave soldiers,” he said, “and ensure the civilian population has corridors to safety.”

For the last few months, Israel has been preparing to extend its activities to Rafah, Gaza’s south most city, with the intent to continue its full-scale operation in the Gaza Strip, ‘paving the way for a shift to a lower-intensity phase of targeted airstrikes and special forces operations.’ According to an Israeli military chief, this will happen after significantly damaging Hamas’ last remaining stronghold.

In order to achieve victory, Israel must dismantle Hamas’ control in Rafah. However, world leaders are more concerned about the humanitarian conditions in Rafah even though Israel encourages Gazans to evacuate their homes in order to avoid civilian casualties. While planning Operation Rafah, targeting Hamas fighters, command centers, and tunnels, the IDF is also taking extraordinary measures to avoid civilian casualties.

“There were 24 regional battalions in Gaza – we have dismantled 18 of them. Rafah is the last Hamas stronghold,” a top military Israeli stated. A Hamas official based in Qatar told the press that some 6,000 terrorists have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7; about half of the 12,000 IDF claims to have been killed. The Hamas source claimed the terrorist group is prepared for a long war in Rafah.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s options are difficult and ours are too. He can occupy Gaza but Hamas is still standing and fighting. He hasn’t achieved his goals to kill the Hamas leadership or annihilate Hamas.”

Who Decides for Israel?

In every Israeli war a coalition of world leaders along with some Israeli traitors, have tried to sabotage a full Israeli victory in military operation, or all-out war. They unite for the sole purpose of Israel’s defeat, especially when Israel is very close to complete victory. And this is exactly what is happening right now with world leaders, even Israel’s supposed ally, U.S. President Biden.

Picture from Times of Israel.

While at the beginning of the war, Biden was supporting Israel in eliminating Hamas in Gaza, he is now doing everything in his power to ensure the survival of Hamas. By providing Gaza with fuel and humanitarian aid that Hamas steals at gunpoint, as well as unending pressure on Israel for a long cease-fire, Biden ensures Hamas’ survival over total Israeli victory and the release of Israeli hostages.

Naturally, this aligns with Hamas’ aspirations for a long cease-fire that will prevent a full Israeli operation and Hamas’ defeat in Rafah.

Hamas hopes for a long cease-fire that will prevent a full-scale Israel operation and Hamas’ defeat in Rafah, Israel last crucial phase of the battle, which will ensure Israel’s complete victory.

Israel’s future as a sovereign, Jewish nation in the land of Israel is at stake. Not entering Rafah was a risk Israel could not afford to take. Not entering Rafah would have been a military disaster preventing Hamas’ complete destruction as a military and political ruler in Gaza.

Victory is so close, as PM Netanyahu said. It is a matter of weeks, not months.

President Biden worries that an Israeli ground operation crossing into Rafah through the Egyptian border will harm his relationship with Egypt as he says, “I’ve worked very hard to make sure we have a relationship and help. I’ve made it clear to Bibi and the war cabinet that they’re not going to get our support if, in fact, they go into these population centers.”

Rafah is the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip with an estimated million displaced people. It is also the entry point for much of the humanitarian aid into the Strip. Moreover, most of the Hamas leaders and remaining military forces are there, Israel says, along with the remaining hostages, both alive and dead.

Pictured left: Rafah Crossing from Wikipedia

Biden said a potential invasion of Rafah was ‘a red line’ for him.

In an interview, U.S. President Biden said he believes Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in his approach to the war, adding “He must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.”

Finally, the IDF has begun conducting what it describes as ‘targeted strikes’ against Hamas operatives in eastern Rafah. IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israeli aircraft struck more than 50 terrorist targets in Rafah amid the evacuation of residents in the area and the expansion of the humanitarian area in other parts of Gaza.

However, it was with limited force, which would not overtake all the Hamas forces there. In this first stage, Israeli soldiers attacked the east side of Rafah, which is mainly sand with little population and not many tunnels. It is obvious that this stage will not conquer Hamas but may bring them into agreement with Israeli terms to release the hostages.

Pictured Right: Map of Rafah Crossing from Twitter, Jordan News Daily

PM Netanyahu faces another problem in bringing into the war cabinet his rival, former defense minister, Benny Gantz. At the start of the war, this was essential in order to form an emergency, united coalition to unite the nation in the war effort. However, Gantz sides more with Biden than with Netanyahu.

It seems that Biden is more interested in removing Netanyahu as PM than in destroying Hamas. Netanyahu made it clear that his government will not allow for a Palestinian state under the current Palestinian authority in the West Bank and/or Gaza, which is part of Biden’s administration’s ‘regional

Integration’ policy. This policy allows Iran to continue operating through its proxies in the Middle East, with the goal of destroying Israel.

Biden sees Netanyahu as an obstacle to his plan to ‘share the neighborhood’ with Israel’s enemies. Hence, Biden and his administration want Netanyahu’s opponents to do the work for them – to defeat Netanyahu by interfering in Israel’s politics and war effort.And There is Benny

Biden has found a partner in Benny Gantz, hoping Gantz will replace Netanyahu as Israel’s next PM and form a left-wing coalition more favorable to his Two-state Solution, giving Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip to the Palestinians.

Never before has a U.S. administration so undermined Israeli democracy and sovereignty, dictating to an Israeli PM and army how to fight its enemies who seek to destroy the one and only Jewish state.

Why is Israel So Concerned?

Trusting in the U.S. presidential declarations – Obama’s and Biden’s included – to always support Israel, Israel stopped heavy precision ammunition productions decades ago and relied on its ally, the U.S. for unconditional supply of the ammunition. But this has backfired.

Now, dependent on American ammunition, Israel has given in to Biden’s demands to supply the Gazan enemy with massive humanitarian aid – the U.S. is even building a seaport to subvert Israel’s control of the flow of goods into Gaza – and respond with minimum force to Iran’s massive missile attack thereby, according to Biden’s request, preventing an escalation in the region.

President Biden and many Democrats publicly used foul language against Netanyahu. The Jewish Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, called on Israel to hold new elections, saying he believed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ‘lost his way’ and was an obstacle to peace in the region.

What Can the President Gain or Lose in this War?

By using Israeli and American Jewish leftists who oppose Netanyahu, Biden desires to disassociate himself from an anti-Israel or anti-Semitic image which could damage his re-election in key states like Florida, Arizona, and Michigan in light of anti-Jewish and pro-Hamas mobs across U.S. campuses.

Sadly, there exist anti-Zionist government Israeli officials who seem to be U.S. administration collaborators, likewise using mob demonstrations against Netanyahu. The Israeli organizers of these anti-Bibi demonstrations admit that they are in constant communication with the White House.

Where Do We Stand Now?

Last week, U.S. President Biden ordered PM Netanyahu not to enter the City of Rafah. During their 30-minute phone conversation between them, that Biden warned that should Israel go forward with the ground operation in Rafah, he would withhold military aid to Israel. Netanyahu made it clear that to defeat Hamas there was no choice but to conduct the ground operation in Rafah, wherein remain Hamas’ last four terrorist battalions.

Biden stated he is willing to supply Israel with defensive weapons such as the Iron Dome, but not weapons and artillery shells capable of destroying the vicious Hamas enemy.

“We will fight with our fingernails if we have to” responded PM Netanyahu.

Picture by M&AB// Mahsanai Hashuk

Please pray!

Israeli forces have gone into east Rafah. Along with killing about 50 Hamas terrorists, there were also Israeli casualties at the time of this writing. Please pray for the safety of the Israeli fighters.
Some brave Israeli citizens are blocking the entrance of “humanitarian aide” trucks “until our hostages are returned”. Please pray for the success of Israel in finding and rescuing the hostages.
Rockets continue to come into the north and the south, aimed at Israeli civilians. Please pray for protection of our forces and for them to be able to stop the attacks.
There are terror events in Judah and Samaria. Please pray for Israeli forces success of the counter-terrorist fighting.
Please pray for an increase of Israeli forces in Rafah and complete victory over the remaining Hamas forces.

URGENT! Israel Needs Your Prayers

December 11, 2019 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

Why is there no functioning government in Israel, and why is Israel going for yet another election, the third in one year?

Surely I will gather the children of Israel from every side and bring them into their own land; and I will make them one nation in the land… of Israel…they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.“ Ez. 37:21-22

After the second and most recent election, the major candidates, Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz were unable to form a coalition government. There was a period of 21 days in which any Knesset member could be given the mandate to form a government, provided he was able to get 61 Knesset members to back him up. This period of time will end at midnight, December 11th. In the event no one is successful in gaining the required 61-member support, the Knesset will have to dissolve itself and the country will hold new elections.

Netanyahu has no plans to resign as PM of Israel despite the series of criminal indictments against him. This tough leader is standing strong, proclaiming his innocence while his opponents from the left, from the media and even from his own party, attack him relentlessly in an attempt to force him to step down. In the last two elections, Netanyahu didn’t receive the sufficient majority necessary to form a coalition but did receive enough votes to validate him as the Israeli politician with the strongest block.

Israeli basic law does not require a prime minister to step down while under indictment, nor his resignation if convicted, but only after all appeals are exhausted. Under the law, he remains innocent until proven otherwise in a courtroom after all appeals are exhausted. His opponents maintain that the reason he wants to stay in power as PM is to receive immunity, while he maintains the reason he wants to remain PM for at least the next 5 months is because he considers himself most qualified to lead the state of Israel in this period of critical security challenges and strategic opportunities with Iran and Hezbollah looming.

Netanyahu’s main concern is the challenges of the belligerent Iranian dictatorship that continues to threaten Israel’s very existence. There are also opportunities that include a strong and productive relationship with the most pro-Israel American president in US history. Astonishingly, even after Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced his intention to formally indict the PM, Netanyahu continued to conduct business as usual on all fronts, and deal with repeated military actions launched against Israel from Gaza and Syria. Simultaneously he conducts ongoing diplomatic meetings with world statesmen and asserts Israel’s interest in Judea and Samaria.

A week ago, Netanyahu said, “I spoke yesterday with President Trump, a very important conversation for Israel’s security. We talked about Iran, but we also talked at length about historic opportunities that stand before us in the coming months. Among them are the official annexation of the Jordan Valley as the recognized eastern border of the State of Israel, as well as a defense treaty with the United States; things we could only dream of previously, but now we have the opportunity to realize.”

Under Netanyahu’s leadership, as he conducted talks with world leaders to advance Israel’s strategic interests even when strong statements were necessary, Israel has emerged in the last 10 years as one of the world’s most influential nations. Israel today is considered to be the 8th world superpower. Netanyahu doesn’t want to lose this momentum. This is the time of the window of opportunities for Israel, this is the time of Trump. It is the most valuable time for Israel in its 72-year history. President Trump in a very short time, has done what no other US president has done for Israel;

moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem,
pulled out of the bad Iranian deal,
cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority and UNRAH,
acknowledged Israel’s right to the Golan Heights and settlements in Judea and Samaria.

Now Trump expects Israel to do her part, take action against Iran and Turkey and stand firm against the Palestinian Authority and Gaza. For this Israel needs a strong leader and a stable government.

In the past 21 days, there were meetings between Likud and Blue and White without results. Each accusing the other of unwillingness to compromise. Likud officials, however, accused Blue and White of continuous refusal to accept Likud’s “far-reaching concessions”, mostly that Netanyahu will serve first as PM for only 6 months instead of a year, with Gantz taking over for the next year and a half. Blue and White refused, claiming it didn’t fit Netanyahu’s legal status.

Blue and White also complained that Netanyahu refused to commit not to seek personal immunity in his corruption cases. Netanyahu accused Gantz of giving in to his partner, Yair Lapid, who wouldn’t permit him to form a joint government with Netanyahu, believing it would be a betrayal of their very reason for existing – anything but Bibi. So, this Wednesday at midnight (Israel time), if a miracle does not happen, the 22nd Knesset is expected to disperse, and Israelis will once again, for the third time this year go to elections. This means that Benjamin Netanyahu will continue to serve as prime minister for at least another five months as the head of a transitional government.

The miracle would be if Netanyahu were able to convince Avigdor Liberman in the last moment. “I am calling on Avigdor Liberman to undertake negotiations in ‘high gear’ in the 48 hours we have left to establish a strong unity government for Israel,” Netanyahu’s tweeted yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Knesset was voting Wednesday on a fast-tracked piece of legislation that would allow lawmakers to dissolve parliament and hold elections on March 2, 2020. If the bill isn’t passed by midnight, new elections will automatically be set for March 10.

Understanding Israel’s Elections

March 8, 2019 By Bella Davidov 1 Comment

Israelis will conduct elections for the 21^st Knesset
The election is scheduled for April 9, 2019.

There is a crisis in Israel concerning the upcoming elections.

Currently, (and for the past 10 years) Israel has had a government that is basically right wing, with Binyamin (Bibi) Netanyahu as Prime Minister and his Likud party in the majority of the coalition. Under his leadership, Israel has become a major world power; as a matter of fact, was just listed internationally in the 8^th place of world power nations. (Read about all of his domestic and international achievements here.)

One of the most important laws the Israeli government has passed recently was the State Law declaring that Israel is the nation of the Jewish people, and that while non-Jewish citizens have the same civil rights, they don’t have the Right of Return (only Jews have the right to instant citizenship). The Law of Return is the only aspect of the State Law where Jews and Arabs are not equal.

Bibi’s greatest concern for Israel is security. He insists that any peace negotiation with the Palestinians must include their accepting Israel as a Jewish state and that dismantling settlements will not be a part of a future peace deal. Many Israeli voters like his security-first approach to politics. Also, his fluency in English and decades of experience give him an international stature that no other Israeli politician can rival. He has won three consecutive elections. Elections are held every four years. Under certain circumstances, a Knesset (Israeli Parliament or Congress) may be dispersed before the end of a term and that determines the date of the next elections.

Over the last three years, however, there have been continual reports about police investigations against PM Netanyahu. The accusations are of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases. Read more details in our website blog “Cases against Netanyahu”.

As of recent polls, Bibi exceeded everyone else in popularity, as he has for the last three elections. But with the looming legal battles, and other issues of dispute in the coalition, Bibi decided it was the right move to call for early elections. However, probably for political reasons, these accusations led to the threat of a recommendation for indictment, (pending a hearing) by the Attorney General. Bibi and the Likud party requested that indictment not become public until after the election, because he didn’t have time to refute the accusations. But the AG made it public a little over a week ago. Therefore, rather than having a fair trial in the court of law with a full defense, Bibi is being judged by the media and the public, and his popularity is declining. This is what brings us to the current crisis because if Bibi fails in the elections the opposition will succeed.

Who is the opposition and why is it so crucial in this election?

Two very popular men joined together in order to defeat Netanyahu. One of them is Yair Lapid who was a favorite in the previous election but was demoted because of constantly undermining Bibi while serving in his coalition as Minister of Finance. His party, Yesh Atid declined in the last elections and ended up in the opposition in the current government.

The other is Benny Gantz, 59-year-old former Israel Defense Forces’ Chief of Staff, who is a newcomer to politics. He entered the race forming his own Hosen Israel (Strength of Israel) party and immediately jumped in the polls, ahead of Lapid but still behind Netanyahu. Lapid and Ganz joined forces and formed a new party. Their joint new party is called Kahol Lavan (Blue and White), which are the symbolic colors of the state of Israel.

Their platform is unclear, but although claiming to be a centrist party they lean more to the left. One thing Gantz and Lapid declare clearly is that they plan to change the State Law. Their main goal is to replace Netanyahu and become PM of Israel on rotation basis. Gantz, who is in first place, serving as PM for the first 2 and a half years and Lapid serving for the rest of the term.

The electoral process in Israel is complicated and confusing for most of the public, but suffice it to say that the situation is crucial.

The reason the Blue and White party opposition is so crucial is that whichever party is elected has to form a coalition consisting of at least 61 MK (Knesset Members). Blue and White would have to include most of the left and far left wing small parties (the right wing parties support Netanyahu, all claiming that he remains innocent until and if proven otherwise). Blue and White would have to include the Arab parties, who have always been in the opposition, some of them have even been temporarily suspended from the government for siding with Israel’s enemies and calling Israeli soldiers terrorists. The one MK that is the most crucial to possibly being in the coalition is Tibi.

Who is Tibi and why is he crucial?

Arab MK Ahmed Tibi, a former adviser to Yasser Arafat, recently split from the Joint List Arab party in order to run separately as head of his Ta’al party.

Tibi is an anti-Zionist who supports Israel withdrawing to the pre-1967 borders and a two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state, including a Law of Return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants. He opposes the idea of Israel being a Jewish state and considers it racist. He opposes Israel having a Jewish national anthem and an Israeli flag. He takes the Palestinian side and has even praised the Palestinian Authority’s terrorists, referring to them as “martyrs” at a ceremony held on the “Palestinian Martyrs’ Day”.

Both Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz and co-chairman Yair Lapid have stated that they would amend the “National State Law,” something Tibi would love to see. “We want to topple the Right, we say it openly,” Tibi said. He stated his desire to one day become Israel’s prime minister, “and if not I then another Ahmed, Mohammed or Mahmoud,” Tibi said recently.

Herein lies the danger to Israel. The possibility that a man like Tibi and other anti-Israeli MKs would be in the coalition is what makes this election so crucial for those who love the Land and the People of Israel and believe in God’s promises..

The new Likud slogan is: “it’s Bibi or Tibi.”

I (Bella) am a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party and attended last Monday’s evening rally in support of Netanyahu. I witnessed thousands of loyal cheering Likud members shouting “Bibi, Bibi, we love you.” He explained the slogan: “it’s mathematical, simple addition that you learn in first grade: Lapid and Gantz can not reach the minimum 61 KM required for a coalition in the government without bringing in the Arab parties…so it’s Bibi or Tibi.”

The scriptures encourage us to pray for our leaders: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority” 1 Tim. 2:1-2.

Dear Lord, teach us how to pray in this complex situation for the upcoming election. Raise Israeli leaders who are able to care for Your people, as You have promised to do when You regathered Your own people back to the land of Your promise (Jeremiah 23:3-4).

Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. ⁴I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.”

You know the hearts of men; reveal the truth of all the cases against Netanyahu, if He is Your chosen one to lead Israel for such a time as this. We know you have promised the mountains of Israel, including Judea and Samaria to Your people Israel in Ezekiel 36. Israel needs a leader who can stand against the world and the left wing in Israel who want to divide Your Land. Help Israelis to choose the right leader. We pray for PM Netanyahu to open his heart to Your leading. We pray for Your justice and righteousness to prevail. We pray You will not allow the enemy from without and from within to win. You give Israel the victory. We acknowledge Your sovereignty in this election, in Israel, and in the world. In the Name of our Yeshua, and for Your Glory, Amen.

The Accomplishments of PM Netanyahu

March 20, 2018 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

The prime minister of Israel is considered one of Israel’s great leaders and one of the free world’s finest statesman by countries like China, India, Russia and Africa, in addition to some European countries, and of course the USA. Many of them are seeking opportunities to cooperate with Israel on the international level. This is a great blow to the world movement that is trying to isolate and boycott Israel.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu has many international and domestic accomplishments. He succeeded in making Israel a secure and stable island in the stormy and unstable Middle East. He has secured Israel’s border and deterred other attacks from Gaza and Lebanon (the longest period of time of ceasefire on the border with Gaza in years.) Strengthened diplomatic relationships with China, India, Japan, Korea, Greece, and Bulgaria. Renewed relationships with African countries, and started peaceful relationships with Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries, by seeking an unofficial alliance between Israel and most of the moderate Arab nations, in dealing with the growing Iranian and Jihadi threats.

Under Netanyahu’s leadership, Israel is now in 18th place of countries in the UN HDI – Human Development Index (before countries like Japan, Belgium, France, Austria, Finland, Spain and Italy). Israel is a gas powered country and a leading nation in sea-water purification. The country is sought-after by other nations for high-tech and other development areas. Under his leadership, we are enjoying the highest tourism rate of all time.

Domestically the improvements are too many to list. Among them, building a wall on the southern border to stop illegal immigration from Africa. Increase in building roads, bridges and light trains throughout the country. Open sky policy to reduce airline rates. Reduced rates on public transportation, and an increase of minimum wages and salaries for the military and police. Ensuring domestic government coalition stability and the growth of the economy.

Netanyahu has stood his ground in defense policies through steadfastness, patience, being both flexible and firm. He was able to endure the difficult years of US President Obama, and is now cultivating a great relationship with current US President Trump.

An overwhelming majority of Israelis ascribe the last decade of stability and triumph to Netanyahu’s leadership. He is not perfect, but most Israelis don’t see anyone else who can better serve Israel’s strategic needs.

The Cases Against PM Netanyahu Now Under Investigation

March 20, 2018 By Bella Davidov Leave a Comment

Case 1000

Netanyahu is suspected of accepting lavish gifts, worth about $280,000 throughout several years from billionaire friends, mainly Israeli-born Hollywood film producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Pacher. The gifts include expensive champagne, cigars, jewelry, flights and hotel rooms. Netanyahu is accused of pushing for retaining a returned citizen’s benefits law, favorable to tycoons that would provide tax relief for Milchan worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Case 2000

Involves the leading Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aharonot, which is unfavorable to Netanyahu, and the daily free distribution newspaper Israel Hayom, (owned by American billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who is favorable to Netanyahu) that poses a serious financial threat to Yediot, especially its most popular weekend edition. Netanyahu is accused of conspiring with Yediot owner, Arnon Moses to help limit the distribution of Israel Hayom’s weekend distribution in return for Yediot giving him more favorable coverage and less favorable coverage to Netanyahu’s foes.

Police finished investigating both cases 1000 and 2000 and have recommended indicting Netanyahu for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in both of them. It is now up to the attorney-general Avichai Mandelblit to investigate the police recommendations and decide whether it has enough evidence to prosecute Netanyahu. The process could take months. Recent opinion polls show public support for Netanyahu is still strong.

Although recordings of secret talks exist, Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing in both cases. In case 1000 he claimed the gifts were just gifts between friends, with nothing expected in return. In case 2000 he denied the allegations that he offered any favors in return for favorable coverage in Yediot, and that the recording of conversations with Moses was actually to catch Moses in his wrongdoings.

Case 3000

Case 3000 alleges bribes solicited during negotiations between a German industrial giant company and members of the Israeli government over the purchase of new submarines from the German company for Israel’s navy. Netanyahu is not a suspect yet, but several intimate associates of Netanyahu, including his former personal lawyer David Shimron, have been arrested on suspicion of the crimes.

Case 4000

Case 4000 is also known as the Bezeq (the national telephone company and communications giant, which includes Walla internet news site) corruption case. Suspects in bribe accusations include among others the controlling shareholder of Bezeq Shaul Elovitch, director-general of Israel’s Communications Ministry Shlomo Filber, and longtime Netanyahu family spokesman and close confidant Nir Hefetz. Elovitch in accused of illicitly allowing Bezeq to buy shares of Yes, a satellite cable provider, a move that would be benefiting Elovitch in hundreds of millions of dollars. He is also accused of ordering the Walla news site to give Netanyahu and his family favorable coverage in exchange for the prime minister advancing regulations in the merger with Yes.

Three allies turned witnesses for the State against Netanyahu.

The three men who were very close to Netanyahu were accused of bribery and were detained for investigations. At first, they claimed loyalty to Netanyahu, denying any of the allegations against him. Eventually, they were broken and made a deal with the police to save their own necks.

First to become the state’s witness in Case 1000 (gifts to Netanyahu from Arnon Milchan and others) and Case 3000 (submarines) was Netanyahu’s former chief of staff Ari Harow.

Then, in Case 4000 it was Shlomo Filber, who was director general of the Ministry of Communications when Netanyahu was serving as Minister of Communications. Harow and Filber have already given detailed and apparently incriminating testimony against Netanyahu.

The last one, and apparently the most damaging to Netanyahu was Nir Hefetz, former media adviser to the Prime Minister and a long time close confidant of the Netanyahu family. He was arrested on suspicion of bribery to help promote regulation worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Bezeq telecom company in return for favorable coverage of Netanyahu and his family by the Walla news website. At first, Hefetz said he did it on his own initiative. After signing the agreement to become a state witness, he changed his testimony and will receive in return full immunity. Police believe that Hefetz has a great deal of information about Netanyahu’s involvement in the various cases under investigation and that eventually, they will be able to get a conviction on Netanyahu in all the cases against him.

Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing in all the cases, saying he is the victim of a politically motivated media-driven witch hunt aimed at toppling him. Amazingly he has many supporters who believe in him, repeating his repeated slogan, that “There will be nothing because there is nothing.”