Netanyahu Rejects Plea Deal That Would Ban Him from Politics

JERUSALEM, Israel – Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he will not accept a plea deal that would ban him from politics for several years.

Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust, and bribery in three separate cases. He is accused of demanding gifts from businessmen over $250,000 and offering favorable government policies to media leaders in exchange for positive news coverage. Netanyahu denies all wrongdoing and claims he is the victim of a witch hunt.

On Monday, Netanyahu commented on recent reports of a potential plea deal with prosecutors that included a “moral turpitude” clause, which would ban Netanyahu from politics for up to seven years.

“In recent days there have been false reports as if I accepted the moral turpitude clause,” Netanyahu said in a video message. “This is simply not true.”

The “moral turpitude” charge could hurt Netanyahu’s chances of becoming the prime minister of Israel again after his 12-year reign was upended last year by a new government made up of eight ideologically different political parties that have little in common except their opposition to Netanyahu. By the time the ban expires, Netanyahu would be nearly 80.

If he accepted the deal and temporarily left politics, it would also trigger a race within his Likud Party for who will be its next leader. But Netanyahu vowed to continue leading Likud.

“I will continue to lead the Likud and the national camp in order to lead Israel, on your behalf,” he said in the video.

Despite his lawyers reportedly urging him to take a potential plea deal, Netanyahu said the only proper action is for the court to simply drop the three cases against him.

Polls consistently show a plurality Israelis consider Netanyahu to be their top choice for prime minister.