translated from Spanish: For the first time in Israel’s history, a practicing prime minister will face court charges

The trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accused of corruption, will begin on March 17, just two weeks after the national elections, a court reported Tuesday. Netanyahu is accused of bribery, fraud and abuse of trust in a series of cases in which he allegedly received lavish gifts from billionaire friends and exchanged regulatory favors for positive news coverage. Netanyahu is expected to attend the initial hearing, the court said in a brief statement. Israel will hold parliamentary elections on 2 March, the third vote in less than a year. The first two elections were largely a referendum on Netanyahu and the third is expected to be as well. As Netanyahu’s campaign seeks to divert attention from corruption charges, its main rival, former military commander Benny Gantz, strives to highlight it. He says Netanyahu is unfit to rule while responding to accusations. Gantz said Monday that if he wins the election he will strive to repair ties with the American Democratic Party. He accuses Netanyahu of neglecting bipartisan ties in favor of the exclusive support of President Donald’s Republican Party Trump.Es “very important that we highlight the importance of the bipartisan relationship between Israel and the United States,” added Gantz, who, who, who added, adding Gantz, who, who Lead the Blue and White Party.Netanyahu has highlighted his relationship with Trump by seeking the support of his nationalist base in Israel.Gantz and fellow formula Yair Lapid spoke at an event Monday night in Tel Aviv. Lapid said Israel faces the task of “rehabilitation” ties with Democrats and American Jews in general. The Jewish community votes overwhelmingly for the Democrats. Two elections in 2019 failed to achieve a defining result and polls indicate that neither Gantz nor Netanyahu will get a clear majority in Parliament.

Original source in Spanish