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Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu 'questioned by police over receiving gifts'

(Sky News)- Police in Israel have reportedly been questioning the country's prime minister on suspicion of receiving gifts from business people.

Benjamin Netanyahu denies the accusations which, if proved, would amount to a breach of his role as a public servant.

Investigators began questioning Mr Netanyahu at his official residence in Jerusalem on Monday, according to Israeli media.

Newspapers, including Haaretz, said the investigation related to gifts worth "hundreds of thousands of shekels" which were allegedly given to Mr Netanyahu by business people from Israel and overseas.

Police were expected to speak with him for several hours and reports said there would almost certainly be more interrogation in the future.

Photographers waited outside the heavily-guarded house but were stopped from getting pictures after black screens were put up inside the property gates.

The questioning came after the country's Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit decided there was enough evidence to open a criminal investigation.

But Mr Netanyahu warned those hoping for his downfall that they should "wait with the celebrations - don't rush".

He told his ruling Likud faction in parliament: "I've said it before and I'll say it once again: There will be nothing because there is nothing."

The 67-year-old is in his fourth term as prime minister and, if he remains until the end of next year, he will become Israel's longest-serving leader.

Some of Mr Netanyahu's critics have called for him to stand down but Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Atid party, said that he hoped the PM would be cleared.

Mr Lapid said: "If two prime ministers in a row fall from office because of corruption, it will be very hard to rehabilitate the public's trust in its leadership."

Ehud Olmert, who held office between 2006 and 2009, was convicted on breach of trust and bribery charges and is serving 18 months in jail.

















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