Netanyahu Interfered 230 Times With News Site Coverage

Israeli demonstrators gather for a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his official residence in Jerusalem, calling upon him to resign on Nov. 28, 2020. Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images.
Israeli demonstrators gather for a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his official residence in Jerusalem, calling upon him to resign on Nov. 28, 2020. Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images.
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Netanyahu Interfered 230 Times With News Site Coverage

Israeli demonstrators gather for a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his official residence in Jerusalem, calling upon him to resign on Nov. 28, 2020. Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images.
Israeli demonstrators gather for a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his official residence in Jerusalem, calling upon him to resign on Nov. 28, 2020. Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images.

An amended indictment against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu filed by the State Prosecutor’s Office on Sunday details 230 instances in which Netanyahu or members of his family sought to improve coverage of them on the Walla news website while he served as communications minister.

In the most serious of the three cases against him - known as Case 4000 - Netanyahu is accused of providing regulatory benefits to Bezeq, the country’s largest telecommunications group, in exchange for positive media coverage on its news site Walla.

The amended version of the so-called Case 4000 removed all language referring to Netanyahu's family, zeroing in on the premier alone.

In addition, the prosecution listed in the amended indictment 315 incidents in which various Netanyahu family members or other intermediaries of the prime minister demanded that the Walla website give them more positive coverage.

Last May, Attorney General Avichai Mandelbilt officially delivered the Israeli Prime Minister’s indictment to Knesset Speaker -- Netanyahu will stand trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three different corruption cases.

While his trial was scheduled back then, his lawyers obstructed the court’s activity. However, the Israel Judicial Authority announced a strict schedule that stipulates holding three sessions every week starting Jan 6.



Türkiye and Italy Strengthen Ties with Trade and Defense Agreements

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) attend the IV Italy-Turkiye Summit at Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome, Italy, 29 April 2025. (EPA)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) attend the IV Italy-Turkiye Summit at Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome, Italy, 29 April 2025. (EPA)
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Türkiye and Italy Strengthen Ties with Trade and Defense Agreements

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) attend the IV Italy-Turkiye Summit at Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome, Italy, 29 April 2025. (EPA)
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) attend the IV Italy-Turkiye Summit at Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome, Italy, 29 April 2025. (EPA)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday observed the formal exchange of a dozen cooperation agreements, including on defense, as part of efforts to strengthen ties between the two Mediterranean nations.

Erdogan was in Rome to attend a fourth so-called Intergovernmental Summit between Italy and Turk Türkiye ey that aims to boost trade and cooperation.

His visit comes at a time when Türkiye and Italy have expanded defense partnerships. In March, Türkiye’s leading drone manufacturer, Baykar, reached a memorandum of understanding for a joint venture with Italy’s Leonardo for production of unmanned aerial vehicles. Last year, Baykar bought Italian aircraft producer Piaggio Aerospace.

Speaking after their meeting, Meloni and Erdogan said that Türkiye and Italy have successfully reached their $30 billion trade volume target and have now set a new goal of $40 billion, signaling further economic collaboration.

“We will continue to strengthen our cooperation with Italy, which has made significant progress in the field of defense industry, with new partnerships and projects,” Erdogan said.

Italy sees Türkiye as a key partner in managing migration numbers and maintaining stability in the region.

On Tuesday, Meloni thanked Erdogan, saying joint measures by Türkiye and Italy had resulted in the number of migrants originating from Türkiye dropping to “zero.”

Erdogan said: “We will continue our cooperation with Italy in the field of combating irregular migration in the coming period.”

The Turkish leader also said that the sides had discussed possible cooperation toward Syria’s redevelopment and would hold more consultations on the issue.