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March 2 (UPI) -- Investigators questioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Friday as part of their ongoing corruption investigation. The prime minister was questioned at his official residence in Jerusalem, while wife Sarah Netanyahu was interviewed at a different location. The two are suspected of taking bribes from the owner of Israel's largest telecommunications company, Bezeq.
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Netanyahu is accused of asking Bezeq owner Shaul Elovitch for favorable news coverage in exchange for favorable government regulatory decisions.
Friday's questioning marked the first time Netanyahu and his wife were questioned in the corruption investigation, known as Case 4000.
Officials said Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit authorized police to question the Netanyahu couple simultaneously to ensure they couldn't coordinate their stories.
As police and Israeli Security Agency investigators arrived at the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem, demonstrators protested outside -- calling for Netanyahu's resignation.
Sarah Netanyahu, who was summoned only to testify, may have to explain some text message communications she had with Elovitch's wife, Iris, YNet News reported Friday.
Police are believed to have incriminating text messages between the two women, as well as evidence of Iris Elovitch's conversations with her husband about news coverage of the Netanyahu family.
If investigators discover a promise for favorable coverage, Sarah Netanyahu could be charged.
"Fake news. Nothing happened," the Netanyahu family said in a statement Thursday. "The continuation of the systematic false leaks against Mrs. Netanyahu is done in an effort to hurt the government and the Likud rule. Despite this, they're claiming there are no leaks."
The questioning follows a recommendation from Israeli police that Netanyahu be indicted on corruption charges in two other cases -- and before his visit to Washington, D.C., next week to speak to pro-Israel lobbyists.
