Beyond Netanyahu: Israel’s major political corruption scandals

EXPLAINERA look at corruption cases involving Israeli prime ministers.Published On 2 Dec 2025Benjamin Netanyahu is the first sitting prime minister in Israel to stand trial after being accused of corruption, but he is hardly the only one to have been mired in such scandals.Nearly all Israeli prime ministers since 1996, including Ehud Barak, Ariel Sharon, and Ehud Olmert, alongside Netanyahu, have been investigated on charges of corruption, as have several other cabinet ministers, Knesset members, and mayors.Here is an overview of the major corruption scandals in Israel over the past two decades.Benjamin NetanyahuThe sitting prime minister of Israel was indicted in three cases – known as “1000”, “2000”, and “4000” – for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, involving allegedly accepting illicit gifts and trading regulatory favours for positive media coverage.The trial is ongoing. Netanyahu admits to taking gifts but claims no favours were returned.On Sunday, November 30, President Isaac Herzog’s office confirmed that Netanyahu submitted a formal pardon request, saying his ongoing trial divides the nation as he goes on a spree of attacking neighbouring countries in the Middle East.Israel’s then-PM Ehud Olmert speaks at the Israeli parliament, October 17, 2007 [Ronen Zvulun/Reuters]Ehud OlmertEhud Olmert, the former prime minister who served from 2006 to 2009, faced a range of charges over misconduct during his terms as trade minister, communications minister and finance minister.Olmert resigned in 2008 – staying on in a caretaker capacity for a few months – before he could be indicted after a US businessman, Morris Talansky, testified about giving Olmert cash-stuffed envelopes in the 1990s for political and personal expenses.