Bribery, infidelity and fraud: These are the allegations in the corruption lawsuit against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The 70-year-old wants to resign as a reaction to January 1, some ministerial offices and appoint successors, as the Ministry of Justice explained. For the time being, he apparently does not want to renounce the post of Executive Chief Executive.
The communication covers four other offices - Health, Social, Agriculture and Diaspora - which Netanyahu still holds in parallel.
The Ministry of Justice announced three weeks ago that 70-year-old Netanyahu should be charged. It is the first time in Israel's history that an incumbent Prime Minister may have to stand trial. Netanyahu spoke of a coup attempt and criticized Israel's judiciary in the strongest terms. Opposition politicians accused the head of government of driving the country into a fratricidal war.
Election in March
Jerusalem's parliament, meanwhile, voted in favor of its dissolution early Thursday morning after efforts to form a government failed for the second year in a row. The third election within one year is now scheduled for March 2, 2020.
Former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called for a pardon from Netanyahu in return for his withdrawal from political life. "Nobody wants to see a head of government in jail, but every footballer has to know when to hang up his shoes," said the leader of the ultra-right party Israel Beitenu (Our House Israel) on the news site ynet. He was against immunity for Netanyahu, but for "a deal in return for a resignation in dignity". According to polls, Lieberman will also be tipping the scales between Netanyahu's Likud and the Middle Alliance blue and white at the upcoming election.
