Benjamin Netanyahu Indicted On Fraud & Bribery Charges

November 21, 2019 12:42 pm

JERUSALEM (AP) – Benjamin Netanyahu’s main political rival says the indicted prime minister has “no public or moral mandate to make fateful decisions for the state of Israel.”  Former army chief Benny Gantz said in a statement Thursday the indictment raises concerns that Netanyahu “will make decisions in his own personal interest and for his political survival and not in the national  interest.”  Netanyahu and Gantz were virtually tied after September’s elections and each failed to assemble a majority coalition in parliament. The country now appears headed into an  unprecedented third round of elections in less than a year, in part because of Netanyahu’s legal woes.  Israel’s attorney general has formally charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a series of corruption scandals.  Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit issued an indictment Thursday charging Netanyahu with fraud, breach of trust and bribery. He was scheduled to address reporters later Thursday.  Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and said he is a victim of a witch hunt.