Immunity & 2020 Vote: Soleimani's Liquidation Seen as Netanyahu's Victory in Israel – Publicist

Benjamin Netanyahu's political opponents are seeking to quickly reject his immunity request thus opening the door to his trial. Israeli publicists Avigdor Eskin and Nelly Gutina have explained what's behind the rush and how the assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani has affected Netanyahu's image.

On Sunday, the Blue and White party (Kahol Lavan) announced that it has the support of enough Knesset members to convene a House Committee to discuss Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for immunity. If Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein gives the green light to the formation of the committee, forces opposing Netanyahu, including Benny Gantz' Kahol Lavan, Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu, the Joint List and Democratic Camp could potentially reject Netanyahu's immunity bid and his trial would begin soon after.

Last week Netanyahu requested immunity from prosecution in his three criminal cases, including breach of trust, accepting bribes, and fraud, which the Israeli prime minister was indicted for by Israel’s attorney general on 21 November 2019.

Investigation & Indictment Against Netanyahu are Biased

While the Knesset speaker is about to rule on the fate of the immunity request, Israeli publicist and political analyst Avigdor Eskin argues that the investigation and the indictment against Netanyahu were biased from the start.

He refers to legal opinion by Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz and a number of high profile American lawyers who earlier called upon Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to drop charges against Netanyahu; denouncing them as "the weaponisation of criminal justice for political purposes".

According to the publicist, the Israeli prime minister remains a successful political heavyweight who deserves to receive immunity.

"The removal of Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani is perceived in Israel as the victory of Netanyahu, among other points", Eskin says. "His policy towards Iran is prevailing internationally. And his international experience is indispensable. Netanyahu is the best choice for secret talks to Arab leaders. He has improved the relations with the Arab world like no other Israeli leader. And his special relations both with President Trump and President Putin are vital for Israel now. He is leading Israel towards peace and prosperity".

https://sputniknews.com/analysis/202001071077960712-immunity–2020-vote-soleimanis-liquidation-seen-as-netanyahus-victory-in-israel–publicist/

Avi Berkowitz meets with Netanyahu to discuss Trump's peace plan

Berkowitz is also expected to see Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, before returning to Washington.

Avi Berkowitz, assistant to US President Donald Trump and special representative for international negotiations, met with Benjamin Netanyahu for dinner at the prime minister's residence on Monday to discuss the Trump administration's peace plan, The Jerusalem Post has confirmed.

It was not immediately clear how long the meeting lasted and what was specifically discussed.

The visit has marked Berkowitz's first trip to Israel since he formally succeeded Jason Greenblatt in November. It comes amid speculations that the US administration might release its peace plan even before Israel's upcoming elections in March.

The US peace team originally planned to roll out the political part of the plan last summer but decided to wait until a new government in Israel was sworn in. Since then, Israel has been experiencing an unprecedented political deadlock, and now facing a third round of elections.

The peace team is, therefore, facing a decision between two difficult choices. The first is releasing the plan despite the political stalemate in Israel, which could hurt the prospects of its success. The second is to wait until Israel elections in March, which could result in a deadlock yet again. In that case, it might be too late to release the plan so close to the US presidential elections in November.

While it has not been publicly announced yet, Berkowitz is also expected to meet with Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, before returning to Washington.

In his recent visit to the region, together with senior adviser Jared Kushner in October, the two met both with Netanyahu and with Gantz.

https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Avi-Berkowitz-meets-with-Netanyahu-to-discuss-Trumps-peace-plan-613379

Pentagon says it will reject Trump threats to bomb Iranian cultural sites

After president repeats his warning, Defense Secretary Esper says US will ‘follow the laws of armed conflict,’ which prohibit such acts

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon on Monday distanced itself from US President Donald Trump’s assertions that he would bomb Iranian cultural sites despite international prohibitions on such attacks.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the US will “follow the laws of armed conflict.” When asked if that ruled out targeting cultural sites, Esper said pointedly, “That’s the laws of armed conflict.”

The split between the president and his Pentagon chief came amid heightened tensions with Tehran following a US drone strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force. Trump had twice warned that he would hit Iranian cultural sites if Tehran retaliates against the US.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/pentagon-says-it-will-reject-trump-threats-to-bomb-iranian-cultural-sites/

Netanyahu says Israel should 'stay out' of fallout from US killing of Soleimani, per report

he United Nations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to distance himself from the U.S.-led airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, telling Security Cabinet ministers on Monday that Israel should "stay out of it."

“The killing of Soleimani is a U.S. event, not an Israeli event, and we should stay out of it," Netanyahu said, according to reports by Axios that cited two ministers who attended the meeting.

The prime minister gave further instructions for Cabinet officials not to engage the press in commentary about the attack – which has ramped up the tensions between the U.S. and the Middle East and escalated the likelihood of a retaliatory attack – in order to ensure that Israel's longtime rivals do not get the impression that it was involved in Thursday's deadly drone strike.

The director of Mossad, a branch of the Israeli Intelligence Community, told ministers they were not expecting any attacks from Iran because "Israel stayed in a distance from the incident," adding that the leaders should expect Iran efforts towards retaliation to become more apparent on Tuesday after the national three-day period of mourning for Soleimani is over.

A former chief of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards said Sunday the Israeli city of Haifa and Israeli military centers would be included in Tehran’s retaliation for Soleimani's death, according to Reuters.

“Iran’s revenge against America for the assassination of Soleimani will be severe. … Haifa and Israeli military centers will be included in the retaliation,” Mohsen Rezaei said in a televised speech to mourners in Tehran.

Following the attack, where the U.S. launched three rockets at Baghdad International Airport, killing the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' elite Quds Force as well as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iran-backed militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces, and five other people, Netanyahu issued a statement with brief congratulatory remarks to President Trump, a longstanding ally in the region.

"Qassem Soleimani brought about the death of many American citizens and many other innocents in recent decades and at present. Soleimani initiated, planned and carried out many terrorist attacks throughout the Middle East and beyond," Netanyahu said. “President Trump is deserving of all esteem for taking determined, strong and quick action. I would like to reiterate — Israel fully stands alongside the U.S. in the just struggle for security, peace and self-defense.”

Netanyahu reiterated to Cabinet ministers Monday that although Israel did not take part in the attack, they support the U.S.' right to defend itself.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/netanyahu-israel-soleimani

>>7738872

Israel wants War war war, when it looks likely they step back and let American's die fighting it while they claim they are opposed FFS