OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israel’s legal and political
dramas converged Monday, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced court in
his corruption trial while his bid to form a government after another
inconclusive election reached a critical phase.
اضافة اعلان
The 71-year-old veteran premier — who last month contested
his fourth election in less than two years — arrived at the Jerusalem
courthouse where he was met by supporters but also opponents who called him
Israel’s “crime minister”.
Israel’s first premier to be indicted in office was ordered
to appear in person at Jerusalem’s District Court for the opening arguments in
a case where is charged with bribery, fraud of breach of trust.
As court proceedings got underway, President Reuven Rivlin
held talks to determine which party leader has the best chance of forming a
stable government following the March 23 election.
Israel remains mired in the worst political crisis in its
73-year history, with voters and the 120-member parliament bitterly split over
whether Netanyahu deserves to extend his record tenure of 12 consecutive years.
Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party finished first in the
polls almost two weeks ago, winning 30 seats, but his path to a 61-seat
absolute majority is precarious.
The anti-Netanyahu camp, however, lacks a clear leader, is
ideologically divided and will also struggle to forge a majority
coalition.
‘Serious corruption’
Netanyahu, wearing a black face mask and a dark suit, sat in
court as lead prosecutor Liat Ben-Ari told judges that the premier was involved
in “a serious case of government corruption”.
He has been charged with accepting improper gifts and
seeking to trade regulatory favors with media moguls in exchange for positive
coverage — allegations which he denies.
Ben-Ari said Netanyahu had “made illegitimate use of the
great governmental power entrusted to him,” in his dealings with media
executives “in order to advance his personal affairs”.
In an unscheduled address hours after the hearing had ended,
Netanyahu insisted it was the prosecution that abused its office.
“This is what a coup looks like,” he charged in inflammatory
remarks indirectly aimed at Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, a Netanyahu
appointee who filed the charges against the prime minister.
.jpg)
.jpg)
