Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to confront corruption lawsuit on 17 March

Last updated on February 22nd, 2023 at 06:12 am

Benjamin Netanyahu is required to appear at a court hearing on 17 March for the beginning of a corruption case against him, the Israeli legal judiciary has declared.

The first day of the case is scheduled only two weeks after general elections on 2 March in which the PM is battling to stay in power, despite the damaging charges leveled on him.

Following a three-year police investigation, the nation’s attorney general charged the 70-year-old pioneer in November in each of the three of the leading cases against him.

Netanyahu is charged with bribery, fraud, and violation of trust after allegedly accepting a considerable number of dollars worth of gifts from wealthy friends and trading administrative favors for constructive media coverage.

Israel’s Justice Ministry told that he expected to attend court in Jerusalem, where three judges will hear his trial.

He could face up to ten years in jail whenever indicted for bribery charges and a maximum three-year sentence for breach of trust and fraud.

Netanyahu, who denies the charges, is the first Israeli sitting PM to be indicted for corruption.

The general election results could majorly affect his preceding. Netanyahu has already backtracked on a request for parliamentary immunity, yet his adversaries in the Knesset had just demonstrated they would obstruct any solicitation.

Israelis have been requested to take part in the upcoming elections for the third time in under a year following two failed to form a majority government.

Netanyahu’s greatest adversary is politician Benny Gantz, who has centered firmly on the corruption allegations and the Prime Minister’s friendly relationship with US President Donald Trump.

Gantz had rejected after September elections to join a unity government headed by Netanyahu, saying he should initially settle his legal issues before taking control.

As occurred in both the April and September political elections, neither one of the candidates is anticipated to have enough seats to frame a majority government. If that situation occurs again, Israel could dive into fourth general elections, expanding the political crisis well over a year.

In coalition discussions following the last political elections, Netanyahu couldn’t accumulate any help from the centrist or left-wing parties, who declined to stand behind a leader confronting indictment.

Article Credit: The National/ CNN

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