Netanyahu defends himself against a "wave of lies" in a rare televised interview

During a television interview decided at the last moment, Benjamin Netanyahu has denied the many accusations that weigh on his people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied the accusations against him in a rare televised interview. He accused his rivals of spreading a "wave of lies" in the run-up to the 9 April legislative elections.

At the last moment. Benjamin Netanyahu was interrogated on Saturday evening by television channel "12", shortly before flying to Washington where he will meet US President Donald Trump and attend the annual conference of the American lobby pro-Israel Aipac. The interview seems to have been decided at the last minute. The Prime Minister entered the TV studio while journalists, informed just moments before, were presenting the evening news bulletin.

"I must crush this wave of lies". The interview comes as Benjamin Netanyahu, already under threat of charge of alleged corruption in three cases, has been accused by his political rivals of receiving 16 million shekels (about € 3.9 million) from the sale of German submarines to the Hebrew State, through a company related to this purchase. "This is a company that has nothing to do with submarines," he said Saturday night, ensuring he sold his shares in 2010 and informed the relevant authorities.

These accusations were relayed by former Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, his main opponent in the legislative elections with his list "Blue-White", and another member of this list, Moshe Yaalon. "I have to crush this wave of lies spread by (Benny) Gantz, (Yair) Lapid, (Moshe) Yaalon and (Gabi) Ashkenazi," said Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu wants to start a lawsuit. On Saturday, Benjamin Netanyahu had already declared his intention to "prosecute for slanderous denunciation" Benny Gantz, Yair Lapid, Moshe Yaalon who, according to him, accused him of "treason" for having accepted another sale of German submarines, this times to Egypt. This is a "slanderous slander", Benjamin Netanyahu denounced, saying that the reasons that led him to accept this sale were "confidential".