Failed attempt to dismiss criminal charges against Netanyahu

Attempts to reach a plea deal to end the criminal trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have failed.

According to The Times of Israel, a few months ago, Amit Hadad, Netanyahu’s lawyer, arranged a meeting at the home of Aharon Barak, the former president of Israel’s Supreme Court, in an effort to negotiate a settlement with the prosecution to close one of the cases.

The aim was for Netanyahu to plead guilty in Case 1000, in which he is accused of fraud and breach of public trust over receiving luxury gifts.

However, Hadad emphasized that Netanyahu was not willing to accept any sentence that involved “moral turpitude”, which would bar him from holding public office for seven years, or any deal that required him to step down from his political positions.

Barak, however, insisted that Netanyahu must resign as Prime Minister for him to agree to mediate the deal. According to a source familiar with the matter, this disagreement led the negotiations to a deadlock.