It is a first in Israel. Prime Minister in office, Benjamin Netanyahu, will face his judges on Sunday, May 24, to answer criminal charges and corruption during his mandate. After seventeen months of electoral crisis during which he played his "political survival", Benjamin Netanyahu is expected in the early afternoon at the Jerusalem district court for a legal battle.

Before him, Ehud Olmert, former star of Likud, had already been charged with corruption but after having resigned from his mandate as Prime Minister. Olmert had been convicted of receiving bribes before spending sixteen months in prison. A scenario that Benjamin Netanyahu, 70, seeks to avoid, accused of having received 700,000 shekels (180,000 euros) of cigars, champagne and jewelry from wealthy personalities in exchange for financial or personal favors. 

Favorable coverage of several media outlets in question 

Benjamin Netanyahu also tried to secure favorable coverage from Israel’s largest paid daily, Yediot Aharonot, according to investigators. Above all, the courts suspect him of having granted government favors which could have brought in millions of dollars to the owner of the Israeli telecommunications company Bezeq in exchange for favorable media coverage by one of the group's media, influencing him. Walla site.

After months of suspense, Attorney General Avichaï Mandelblit charged Benjamin Netanyahu in November 2019, which was then considered to be a "political death warrant" by his detractors. But "Bibi" managed to stay at the head of his party, finish first in the last legislative elections, negotiate a power-sharing agreement with his rival Benny Gantz and, thus, remain Prime Minister.

A trial in the presence of the accused

Benjamin Netanyahu's lawyers had asked that he not have to appear at the opening on Sunday afternoon of a trial that could last from one to three years, including possible appeals. 

But the court has confirmed in recent days that the Prime Minister should be present at the hearing, even if it remains technical, with the program of reading the indictments. "A person can only be tried for criminal allegations in his presence," insisted the magistrates. After the first day, the three judges of the Jerusalem court chosen by the Supreme Court will be able to ask the Prime Minister to attend different hearings.

In Israel, the Prime Minister has no judicial immunity, but, unlike other elected officials and public servants, he does not have to resign or withdraw during his trial. The principal concerned pleads his innocence, denounces a plot hatched by justice against him but could also, at any time before the verdict, "negotiate a sentence" with the prosecutor as authorized by Israeli law. 

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