Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly boasted of his close relations with US President Donald Trump in his long battle to win reelection and ward off the graft charges against him. SAUL LOEB/AFP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was Tuesday formally charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust, the justice ministry said, shortly after the embattled politician dropped his request for parliamentary immunity.
The indictment came as Netanyahu was in Washington for a meeting with President Donald Trump for the unveiling of a long-awaited US peace plan.
Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit presented the charge sheet to the Jerusalem district court, where Netanyahu will face trial for corruption over gifts and favourable media coverage received in return for regulatory and financial benefits.
Mandelblit had announced his decision to charge Netanyahu in November and presented the charge sheet publicly, but had refrained from the formal move in court “to enable a debate on the prime minister’s request for immunity from parliament”, his office said.
Hours earlier, Netanyahu issued a statement from Washington announcing he would not seek parliamentary immunity.
“A few minutes ago I informed the Knesset speaker that I’m withdrawing the immunity request,” Netanyahu said on Facebook. “I won’t let my political opponents use this issue to disturb the historic move I’m leading.”
Israel’s parliament had been scheduled to vote on Tuesday to convene a committee to rule on the request.
“In this fateful moment for the people of Israel, while I’m in the US on a historic mission to form Israel’s final borders and ensure our security for future generations, another immunity circus show is due to open at the Knesset,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu denies the charges against him and says he is the victim of a politically motivated witch-hunt.
The court will now set a date for the beginning of the trial.
His opponents had already mustered a majority in the legislature to deny him immunity.
Labour Party leader Amir Peretz welcomed Netanyahu’s announcement.
“It’s good the prime minister did what should have been done and gave up on his request for immunity,” he said.
“I, therefore, hope that the prime minister will take the next step and decide to completely resign, go to court as a regular citizen and try to prove his innocence,” he said.
