Analysts Fear Netanyahu Corruption Probe Will Distract From Other Netanyahu Corruption Probes

Frustration over the diluted effect of multiple corruption probes of Netanyahu has had the counterintuitive effect of protests to demand more investigative activity.

Jerusalem, August 30 – Analysts and political activists voiced concerns today that reports of an investigation into conflict-of-interest and public trust issues involving Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu may have adverse consequences for public attention to other ongoing investigations into conflict-of-interest and public trust issues involving Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Commentators and public figures from various segments of the political spectrum appeared on broadcast and streamed media this morning to describe the unfortunate fallout from the recent probe into alleged corruption by the premier, of which the chief concern is that exposure and discussion of the episode will come at the expense of exposure and discussion of the other probes currently underway. Such distraction may have political consequences that investigators cannot foresee, they warned.

“All sorts of unintended outcomes are possible here,” cautioned analyst Juan Atatayim on Voice of Israel’s Reshet Bet this morning. “If the probe uncovers actual criminal misconduct in which the prime minister was involved, that will detract from the attention available for the details of the other ongoing probes. If the newest investigation fails to uncover incriminating evidence of the prime minister’s malfeasance, then coverage of its proceedings only serves to deprive the other investigations of the attention they deserve.”

“I don’t want to sound like I’m minimizing the importance of this probe,” stated May Gamati on Galei Tzahal, a radio station nominally run by the IDF. “It could be the one that finally ousts Bibi – or it could be one that takes away just enough attention from the one that would have generated enough interest to oust Bibi, but now won’t. The point is, I think we should have given the previous probes more time to work. Trying to get Netanyahu out of office through elections certainly hasn’t succeeded.”

Frustration over the diluted effect of multiple corruption probes of Netanyahu has had the counterintuitive effect of protests to demand more investigative activity. Saturday nights in the city of Petach Tikva have seen weekly demonstrations near the home of the Attorney General, as the desperation of Netanyahu’s political foes, unable to defeat him at the balloting box, results in near-obsessive treatment of any emerging wisp of misconduct. The increasing shrillness has served only to cement the premier’s position as the prospective victor in any future elections.

“Maybe we need to investigate whether Netanyahu is actually behind all these investigations in the first place, considering who benefits,” wondered Gamati. “That’s it – we need another investigation! Quick! Has someone alerted the Attorney General of these allegations?”

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