Israel's political establishment was bracing Wednesday for former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's return to public office after revelations he will not face trial over allegations of fraud and corruption.
The Israeli media was awash with speculation about his political comeback although the Attorney General Eliyakim Rubinstein has yet to formally announce his decision in the Netanyahu case.
The media said Rubinstein had decided there was not enough evidence to support charges against Netanyahu and his wife Sara after a year-long investigation but that his report would contain harsh criticism of Netanyahu's conduct.
A justice ministry spokesman declined to confirm the reports.
"It is all speculation as nothing has been released by us. The announcement will be made tomorrow (Thursday)," he told AFP.
The couple have been under investigation for allegedly keeping gifts presented to the former prime minister when he was in office between 1996 and 1999, in violation of Israeli law, and for promising a Jerusalem contractor he would be paid out of the public purse for work done on their private home.
The news comes as Prime Minister Ehud Barak is struggling with his own political woes after just 14 months in power.
Without a majority in parliament since early July and facing only halting moves in the peace process with the Palestinians, he is facing a possible call for new elections after parliament's return from its summer recess at the end of October.
According to the opinion poll released by army radio Wednesday, both Barak and Netanyahu would gain 42 percent if elections were held today, while 16 percent had no opinion.
After his crushing defeat at the hands of Barak in the May 1996 elections Netanyahu, now 50, gave up leadership of the right-wing Likud bloc, and was replaced by former foreign minister and defense minister Ariel Sharon.
But latest opinion polls have consistently shown that Netanyahu has a better chance than Sharon of beating Barak in any election.
The big question in the media Wednesday was whether Netanyahu would make a comeback and capitalize on the troubles of Barak, a former army chief who has come under fire not only for his peace policies but also his autocratic style of leadership.
"The attorney general's decision to close the case against Benjamin Netanyahu convulses every stone of the already shaky political establishment and has quite significant political ramifications," Maariv newspaper columnist Shalom Yerushalmi wrote.
He said he expected Netanyahu to announce his decision on the day the parliament or Knesset sets a date for new elections. A bill calling for new polls passed a preliminary reading in August and is due to be reviewed when the 120-body resumes.
The Yediot Aharonot said there was tension in the Likud at the prospect of Netanyahu's return.
"Netanyahu's return to politics and the Likud will create a furore in the party and bring about complicated struggles," it quoted a senior Likud source as saying. "They won't hesitate to draw swords.” – JERUSALEM (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
