Investigation into "harassment" of Sara Netanyahu: Messages revealed.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's wife, Sara Netanyahu, is facing potential legal issues over allegations that she intimidated a key witness in the prime minister's corruption case. A television program aired in Israel published serious messages that are expected to have significant legal and ethical consequences, which Sara Netanyahu allegedly sent to pressure Hani Blivis, a close aide to the prime minister and a powerful figure in his office, to launch a campaign against the witness.

"A DISGUSTING PERSON"

It was reported that Sara Netanyahu's messages to Blivis were aimed at "hunting down" Hadas Klein, a key witness in the case involving allegations that the prime minister and his wife received expensive gifts such as champagne and cigars from billionaire Arnon Milchan in exchange for political favors. In the shared footage, it was seen that Sara Netanyahu wrote in her messages, "We need to go after Hadas Klein, Arnon Milchan's secretary who has been slandering us for years. She is lying, slandering, and is a disgusting person."

SHARING THAT RAISES SUSPICIONS ABOUT SARA NETANYAHU

Shortly after these messages were sent, negative posts about Klein began to appear on social media, raising suspicions that Sara Netanyahu may have been involved in witness intimidation and obstruction of justice.

POLICE SEARCHING FOR EVIDENCE

For the police to sustain the allegations, they will need to prove that Sara Netanyahu intended to intimidate Hadas Klein. Additionally, a clear connection will need to be established between the messages allegedly sent to Blivis and the subsequent social media posts.

PHONE DETAIL CHALLENGING THE POLICE

The investigation into Sara Netanyahu is facing a challenge for the Israeli police. The phone from which the incriminating messages were allegedly sent belonged to the late Hani Blivis. If the police can prove the authenticity of the messages, they could be used as evidence. Sara Netanyahu's lawyers may also argue that verification is impossible and that there could be potential doubts about the reliability of the evidence.

POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING THE INVESTIGATION

If the investigation progresses, Sara Netanyahu will first be summoned by the police and will be subjected to a formal interrogation cautiously, depending on the evidence. It has been stated that the investigation could take months, during which the police will need to gather evidence, coordinate with witnesses, and verify findings. There is also a possibility that the investigation could be expanded to include other individuals who may have assisted or been involved in the alleged harassment.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS MAY INCREASE

The investigation will be conducted by the Lahav 433 anti-corruption unit under the close supervision of senior prosecutors. Finally, there are also questions about whether the alleged crimes are still within the statute of limitations. In Israel, the statute of limitations for standard cases such as witness intimidation or obstruction is five years. However, if Sara Netanyahu is found to have colluded with others to intimidate Hadas Klein, the statute of limitations could extend to ten years.

This case could have significant implications not only for Sara Netanyahu but also for the broader legal battles surrounding Binyamin Netanyahu's corruption cases.

SIMILAR EXAMPLE OCCURRED IN 2018

Witness intimidation is a crime that can be punished with up to three years in prison under Israeli law. To convict someone of this crime, prosecutors must prove the intent to intimidate and evidence linking the intimidation to the defendant, which are the two main components. The last notable case of such a crime occurred in 2018 when an individual was convicted of intimidating Nir Hefetz, a former spokesperson for Netanyahu and a state witness in another case. The individual had sent a threatening letter to Hefetz, accusing him of being a "snitch," and was subsequently sentenced to community service and a monetary fine.