Israeli police back criminal investigation against Netanyahu over corruption

The police said it awaits the return of Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit from a trip abroad to present its recommendation, Israeli Channel 10 reported, without specifying the case over which the police seek an investigation.

The case is likely to be related to Netanyahu's spending of public money.

"The investigation will address some issues relating to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's houses in Jerusalem and Kisaraa, based on the recommendations of the Attorney General and the Israeli police," Channel 10 said.

Authorities have been looking into spending and gifts related to Netanyahu, though Mendelblit has stressed that a formal investigation has not been opened.

Israel's attorney general has said he would approve a criminal probe of the prime minister if "reasonable" grounds were found, countering charges against him.

In July, the former attorney general Yehuda Weinstein investigated allegations of wrongdoings involving Netanyahu's finances.

Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

In June however, he acknowledged receiving money from French tycoon Arnaud Mimran, who was sentenced to eight years in jail over a $315 million scam involving the trade of carbon emissions permits and the taxes on them.

In May, Israel's state comptroller released a critical report about Netanyahu's foreign trips, some with his wife and children, between 2003 and 2005 when he was finance minister.

And there have been allegations the couple spent public funds on garden furniture and electrical repairs at their private villa in the coastal resort of Caesarea.

Also, a former butler accused Netanyahu's wife, Sara, of pocketing cash from deposit refunds for empty bottles returned from the official residence between 2009 and 2013, money that should have gone to the treasury.

In 2013, Netanyahu reimbursed the state $1,000 but the butler has said the figure should have been six times higher.

Last month, a new row was brewing after reports Netanyahu petitioned a Jerusalem court to block a freedom of information request from a local NGO which wants details of his official spending on his family's laundry made public.