Israeli PM Faces Corruption Charges Amid Multi-Front War Concerns

Former Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz voiced strong criticism Monday regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating the ongoing corruption case against him constitutes an unfair prosecution.

Speaking on “The Record With Greta Van Susteren,” Dershowitz characterized the charges as politically distorted and fundamentally flawed, arguing they should never have been brought against a sitting prime minister.

“The American system is so much better. You can’t put a sitting president on trial,” Dershowitz asserted.

He emphasized that his advice to Netanyahu over years reflects both professional counsel and personal rapport: “I’ve advised Mr. Netanyahu for many years… he’s the type of client I usually don’t represent because it often gets messy.”

Dershowitz underscored what he perceives as a significant divergence between Israel’s legal framework and America’s, contending that common political interactions could face criminalization in his case.

“The idea of criminalizing those kinds of ordinary activities really shows a kind of selective prosecution,” Dershowitz said.

He described the accusations against Netanyahu – including alleged acceptance of gifts like “a few bottles of Champagne and some cigars” or attempts to influence media narratives about his wife – as absurd. He believes such charges distract from Israel’s critical multi-front security challenges, including Hamas ceasefire talks, potential conflict risks with Lebanon, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and threats from Yemen.

“This is a case that should never have been brought,” Dershowitz repeated Monday.

He noted an existing development in the proceedings: prosecutors already directed the court to dismiss one of the most serious charges because “there’s nothing there.”

Based on this outcome, he suggested “a substantial possibility that Mr. Netanyahu might be acquitted” if the case concludes, or face only minor consequences if convicted.

Dershowitz also addressed speculation about a presidential pardon sought by Netanyahu via Isaac Herzog to expedite resolution of these long-standing charges. He warned against such an option due to the risk it would appear as tacit guilt: “The problem with a pardon is that for some, it will sound like… an admission of guilt.”

He stressed the urgency of Netanyahu’s responsibilities concerning Israel’s national security amidst regional complexities.

Dershowitz hopes the matter concludes soon and believes he has articulated his position sufficiently regarding the case.