Israel PM Netanyahu formally indicted on corruption charges

Jerusalem: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was formally indicted on corruption charges on Tuesday, hours before he was set to meet President Donald Trump for the unveiling of the US administration’s long-anticipated Middle East plan, a media report said.

Netanyahu has been charged with bribery and fraud and breach of trust in three corruption cases, CNN reported.

Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit submitted the indictment in the Jerusalem District Court shortly after Netanyahu withdrew his request for parliamentary immunity, a request he was almost certain to lose.

Netanyahu has insisted he is innocent, calling the investigations an “attempted coup” driven by the left and the media.

The charges in court mean that Netanyahu will be the first sitting prime minister to face trial in the country’s history. A trial date has not been set yet, but the legal process could possibly take years.

Under Israeli law, Netanyahu does not have to resign upon indictment. Instead, he only has to resign if he is convicted and that conviction is upheld through the appeals process.

Image courtesy of yahoo.com)

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