Israel’s attorney general has charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in connection with three separate cases, the BBC reports.
Mr Netanyahu is alleged to have accepted gifts from wealthy businessmen and dispensed favours to try to get more positive press coverage.
He has denied any wrongdoing and said he is the victim of a “witch-hunt” by his left-wing opponents and the media.
Mr Netanyahu is alleged to have received various high-value benefits, including pink champagne and cigars, in return for favors for a wealthy friend.
He is alleged to have agreed a deal with the publisher of a major newspaper to promote legislation to weaken a rival daily in return for favorable coverage.
It is also alleged that Mr Netanyahu promoted regulatory decisions that favored a leading telecommunications company in return for favorable news coverage from one of its websites, as part of an agreement with the company’s controlling shareholder.
He has also insisted he will not resign and is not legally obliged to do so.
But the announcement comes amid a political stand-off in Israel following two inconclusive general elections in April and September.
On Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu’s rival for the premiership, Benny Gantz, said he had been unable to form a governing coalition with a majority in parliament. He had been given the opportunity to try after Mr Netanyahu failed to do so.
President Reuven Rivlin asked lawmakers on Thursday to agree on a candidate for prime minister within 21 days and avoid an unprecedented third election in a year.
