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Israel Knesset passes Bill meant to shield Benjamin Netanyahu from corruption allegations

ISRAELI MPs passed a Bill yesterday that aims to shield Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from corruption allegations.

The law prevents police from recommending that prosecutors bring charges against suspects and releasing the findings of their investigations.

A storm of protest forced MPs to amend the Bill to exclude the ongoing probes of Mr Netanyahu’s affairs.

Police suspect the prime minister of involvement in bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He has been questioned in two cases.

One relates to expensive gifts from billionaire supporters and the other to secret talks with a major newspaper publisher to ensure positive coverage if Mr Netanyahu curtails a free sheet supportive of him.

A third investigation involves allegations that Mr Netanyahu’s cousin, who is also his solicitor, traded his influence in return for a hefty cut of a government deal to buy German military submarines and patrol boats. Mr Netanyahu’s cousin represented agents of the vessels’ builder ThyssenKrupp in the negotiations.

The prime minister claims that he is the victim of a witch-hunt.

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