It is too soon to determine whether Benjamin Netanyahu will end his career in the Prime Minister’s office or in court. Nonetheless, the draft indictments against him and investigation materials published over the past year sending shockwaves around the world are tarnishing Israel’s proud image of which it has long boasted as “the only democracy in the Middle East.” Netanyahu’s abuses via-a-vis the media and relentless attacks he and his eunuchs (messengers) direct at the country’s law enforcement authorities are reflected in the international Corruption Perceptions Index that ranks the perceived corruption level on a scale of 1-180, with the 180th spot being considered the most corrupt state. In the 2018 index, Israel came in 34th place after Qatar (33rd) and the United Arab Emirates (23rd).
An additional aspect has emerged in recent years in Israel’s tarnished reputation for probity and integrity, which is also linked to the questionable links between wealth and political power. Capitalizing on their Jewish origins, business people and even high-profile Russian and Ukrainian politicians are finding sanctuary in Israel and evading law enforcement authorities in their countries.
