Israeli PM Netanyahu back in court as post election fate hangs in the balance
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appeared in court for the resumption of his corruption trial. The evidentiary phase of the trial was beginning as Israel's political parties were meeting the country's president to weigh in on whether Netanyahu should form the next government after a closely divided election or step down to focus on his legal woes.
Between witness testimony in a jerusalem court room and the consultations at the president's office across town, it promised to be a day of extraordinary political drama, bringing into sharp focus netanyahu's efforts to stay in power.
He is Israel's longest-serving prime minister and has clung to power through four hardfought elections in less than two years, even as he has faced allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. The March 23 election was largely a referendum on his leadership but produced no clear verdict.
Israel's political parties began meeting President Reuven Rivlin to recommend which candidate should be tasked with forming the next government.
After each election, Israel's president is responsible for designating a party leader to try to put together a governing majority. That decision is usually clear cut, but Mr Rivlin faces a difficult choice given the fragmented election results that left the knesset, israel's parliament, divided between 13 parties with broad ideological differences.
Neither Netanyahu's allies nor his foes secured a governingmajorityintheknesset,israel'sparliament.sohisfatecould come down to Naftali Bennett, a right-wing former ally with whom he has strained ties, and Mansour Abbas, the leader of a small Arab Islamist party who also has yet to commit to either the prooranti-netanyahu blocs.
Later on Monday, Mr Bennett recommended himself as the next prime minister, deepening Israel's political deadlock. His right-wing Yamina party had been in a position to serve as a king maker but it declined to take sides. Yamina has just seven seats in parliament, making it a long shot to be able to form a governing coalition. Mr Bennett is hoping he can become a consensus candidate who can bridge the deep divides between the rival factions.
Mr Rivlin was earlier quoted by israeli media as saying he did not see how any ruling coalition could be formed and expressing concern Israel would go into a fifth round of elections.
At the Jerusalem District Court, Netanyahu sat with his lawyers as lead prosecutor Liat Ben-ari read out the charges against him.
"The relationship between Netanyahu and the defendants became currency, something that could be traded," she said. "The currency could distort a public servant's judgment."
Netanyahu's lawyers sought to make are butt albut were cut off byjudgerivkafriedman-feldman,whosaidtheyhadalready responded to the charges earlier in the trial. The judge then ordered a brief recess, during which netanyahu left the court house.
Outside the courtroom, dozens of supporters and opponents of the prime minister gathered to protest on opposite sides of the building amid a heavy police presence, highlighting Israel's deep divisions. Anti-netanyahu protesters have held weekly demonstrations for months, calling on him to resign.