JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s attorney general on Thursday formally charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a series of corruption cases, throwing the country’s paralyzed political system into further disarray and threatening the long-time leader’s grip on power.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit charged Netanyahu with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three different scandals. It is the first time a sitting Israeli prime minister has been charged with a crime. Mandelblit was set to issue a formal statement later Thursday.
Allegations against Netanyahu include suspicions he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars of champagne and cigars from billionaire friends, offered to trade favors with a newspaper publisher and used his influence to help a wealthy telecom magnate in exchange for favorable coverage on a popular news site.
Todd Blanche backs Jeanine Pirro after Lincoln Memorial pool vandalism case dismissal
Trump orders major cut to US-South Korea drills as North Korea ramps up missile tests
CENTCOM commander touts USS Abraham Lincoln mental health record after more than 260 days without port call
Wes Moore: Trump’s response to USS Lincoln crew concerns ‘pisses me off’
Anti-Israel nonprofit under federal investigation over financial dealings: report
Progressive Minneapolis mayor’s viral hip-hop moves spark ‘humiliation ritual’ mockery online
This Chinese Company Imports Workers And Is Accused Of Polluting Hungary’s Water. It Also Gets Tax Breaks In US.
Federal judge clears path for border wall construction in Arizona
Humanoid robots could patrol southern border, CEO pitches, as futuristic technology moves closer to reality
Men Are Not Women: Stand Up for the Truth
The only map you need to see as California’s billionaire tax fight heats up
Lexington, Kentucky park shooting kills 1, injures 4 during live band performance
Democrats Want ID for Hot Pockets But Not for Voting?
Last-Ditch Effort to Kill Trump Fossil Fuel EOs Goes Down in Flames
Family killer Chris Watts seeks prison marriage with new love interest: report
The indictment does not require Netanyahu to resign but is expected to raise pressure on him to step down.
Netanyahu has called the allegations part of a witch hunt, lashing out against the media, police, prosecutors and the justice system.
Netanyahu was scheduled to issue a statement later Thursday.
Story cited here.
