Israel’s Attorney General Gali Beharav-Miara is expected to decide whether to hold mediation to reach a plea agreement in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ongoing criminal trials, according to reports from Channel 12 News in Israel.
The plea agreement, which has been on the table since the first day of the investigation against him, includes Netanyahu's confession and his conviction for breach of trust; in addition to his removal from the public arena and the dropping of bribery charges against him. If Netanyahu agrees to accept the plea deal, the prosecutor's office will waive imprisonment.
Acceptance of the plea agreement by Netanyahu means leaving political life immediately. Those close to the Prime Minister firmly believe that his lawyers can win the case; however, there is still a risk, as with any trial, that this will not be the case. That is, accepting the plea agreement will indeed lead to Netanyahu's retirement, but it will save him from actual imprisonment.
AG said set to decide on whether to allow non-binding mediation in Netanyahu trial https://t.co/CiKp3Jj6Iy
— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) May 6, 2023
According to the agreements reached by the parties in the trial announced already last month, dozens of witnesses will not be required to appear in court to testify. As it turns out, the prosecution case will be shortened and Netanyahu will testify earlier than expected. At the same time, and as has already happened in the past, there may be unexpected delays in the schedules.
About a month ago, it was revealed by investigative journalists that Judge Oded Shaham suggested that the parties in the Netanyahu trial go to criminal mediation, a procedure in which they would try to reach an agreed plea deal. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the attorney's office have not yet responded to the court, and the procedure will only take place if the parties express their agreement to it.
Criminal mediation is a mediation procedure conducted before a judge unaffiliated with the criminal case who serves as arbitrator. The purpose of the procedure is to streamline and shorten the criminal trial while creating agreements between the prosecution and the defense. In the past, the parties in the Netanyahu trial had initial negotiations for a plea agreement that was unsuccessful. The difference between the cases is that a judge is involved in the mediation process, meaning an objective, independent factor with extensive legal knowledge and experience.
National Unity party chair MK Benny Gantz: "Netanyahu should take a plea deal and resign"
— Eric Garland (@ericgarland) May 4, 2023
‼️😀 https://t.co/8l4pHvCPUz
Regardless of speculations by many reporters and recent polling showing the Likud’s numbers tanking, it is highly unlikely Netanyahu will accept the current plea deal being offered to him and actually retire.
