It's Weinstein's duty to order a probe against Netanyahu
Op-ed: The attorney general doesn’t have to convict the prime minister, but he must fight the norm of lawlessness, and that can only be done through a thorough police investigation.
Therefore, precisely because of this, there is something very troubling in the fact that the prime minister is incapable of taking responsibility.
No, he doesn’t have to resign. But he can say, "I was wrong. The expenses were exaggerated. There was lawlessness." He can ask, on his own initiative, for new and clearer rules for the management of the prime minister's homes, both the public one and the private one. He should have presented the public, including his public of supporters, who are not all indifferent and who don't all think that everything is wonderful, with steps aimed at putting an end to the lawlessness.
But that didn’t happen. He didn’t say anything. He just pointed an accusing finger at Meni Naftali, the former housekeeper of the prime minister's residence.
This response, which adds insult to injury, requires Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to get into the thick of things. Weinstein, unlike his predecessors, comes from the private market. He served as a defense attorney, working for Netanyahu as well. He is not very trigger-happy. Menachem Mazuz, at least at the beginning of his term as attorney general, exercised caution as well. He decided, against State Prosecutor Edna Arbel's opinion, to close the case against former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. He was subject to scathing criticism at the time, but the cautious approach should actually be welcomed.
The report clarifies that there are many major and troubling doubts. Not everything has been checked. The comptroller makes it clear in the report. He is turning the responsibility over to the attorney general. And the things that have been checked raises even more doubts. When Netanyahu shakes off all responsibility, the result is that lawlessness wins. Corruption could become a norm.
Granted, Netanyahu was right in some of his arguments. Why him? Why now? But it should be noted that this examination, and the report's publication, are the result of a growing number of complaints over the years about reckless behavior. Netanyahu had a thousand of opportunities to stop the chaos. But the chaos only increased. Now it's no longer a matter of timing or of excuses. Now there are findings.
This is exactly where the attorney general must make a decision. He can't join the chorus of "it's nothing, it's not so bad, it’s not corruption, and anyway it's Naftali's fault." Netanyahu is shaking off responsibility. There is no need for the attorney general to do the same.
He doesn’t have to convict Netanyahu. That's not his job. He doesn’t have to fire him. But he must fight the norm of lawlessness. And that can only be done through a thorough police investigation.
There is a need for caution. We are talking about a prime minister after all. We are talking about an election period after all. And an investigation, in any event, will not be completed within several weeks, so it will not affect the elections. But the findings don’t leave much room for doubt. They require an investigation. If not tomorrow, then in a month from now. As long as that doesn’t happen, the attorney general will be authorizing lawlessness.
