Court delays Netanyahu graft trial

JERUSALEM: An Israeli court yesterday postponed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s graft trial over coronavirus, as the premier relaunched his appeal for an unity government to tackle the crisis.

Mr Netanyahu, the first Israeli prime minister ever indicted in office, had been scheduled to stand trial from tomorrow over alleged bribery, fraud and breach of trust — charges which he denies.

Jerusalem’s District Court said that given the coronavirus pandemic, it had been instructed to hear “only urgent matters”.

In Mr Netanyahu’s trial, “we have decided to postpone the first hearing until May 24”, the court said.

Israel has 200 cases of the virus and tens of thousands of people in home quarantine.

Mr Netanyahu has been charged with a range of offences including receiving improper gifts and offering a media mogul lucrative regulatory changes in exchange for favourable coverage.

Despite the indictments, Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party won the most seats in March 2 elections and he is aiming to form a new government.

But Likud and its allies fell short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the Knesset, or parliament. It was Israel’s third inconclusive vote in less than a year.

Mr Netanyahu, ahead of a cabinet meeting yesterday, to be held by teleconference in response to the virus, reissued his appeal to form a unity government with the main challenger Benny Gantz, who heads the centrist Blue and White Party.

He urged Mr Gantz to join a six-month alliance, which Mr Netanyahu would lead.

“We must unite forces and form a strong and stable government that will be able to pass a budget and make tough decisions,” Mr Netanyahu said.

Ministerial posts would be split evenly between Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc and the centre-left faction that backs Mr Gantz, the prime minister said.

When the six months expire, “we will return to the currently existing situation”, Mr Netanyahu added, presumably referring to a divided parliament with neither camp holding a majority.