A crisis in Israel

Israel, already shaken by a breakdown of the Mideast peace effort, now faces a political crisis. A long-awaited report by Israel's national police has recommended to prosecutors that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted for fraud and breach of trust in a political appointments scandal. This is a recommendation only, one that prosecutors may ultimately reject. The report also recommends charges against Netanyahu allies.

Mr. Netanyahu denies the charges and should at this point be presumed innocent. If he is actually indicted, he would be entitled to the due process of law, however long that may take. Yet the political impact of the investigation can no longer be easily contained.

Already, news of the police report has ended talk of the opposition Labor Party entering a coalition cabinet to revitalize the Oslo peace agreements.

Several members of the cabinet have threatened to withdraw their support from Mr. Netanyahu if he is indicted.

The political crisis can only complicate attempts to rescue the troubled peace with the Palestinians, which is nearer collapse now than at any time since the Oslo agreements were signed nearly four years ago. The necessary decisions for peace can be made only by an Israeli government whose own legitimacy remains above doubt. For the good of Israel and in the interests of peace, the questions raised by the criminal investigation need to be resolved as quickly and fairly as possible.

-- The New York Times