For the first time in history, a sitting Israeli prime minister is likely to be indicted on criminal charges.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced on Thursday his intention to indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges, pending a final hearing.
The announcement comes after three years of investigations and involves three separate cases and allege that Netanyahu engaged in bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Netanyahu has an opportunity to challenge the charges at hearing, though that process could take up to a year.
The bribery charge stems from allegations that Netanyahu supported regulatory concessions to Shaul Elovitch, the controlling shareholder at Israeli telecommunications company Bezeq in exchange for favorable news coverage at Bezeq subsidiary Walla, a news site. The changes are valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Another case focused on a breach of trust for an alleged deal Netanyahu made a deal for favorable coverage at another news organization, Yedioth Ahronoth, in exchange for legislation to damage a competing newspaper.
The third case, which involves fraud and breach of trust, alleges that Netanyahu received gifts from wealthy figures, such as billionaire film producer Arnon Milchan, in exchange for political favors.
“You acted in a conflict of interests, you abused your authority while taking into account other considerations that relate to your personal interests and the interests of your family. You corrupted public servants working under you,” Mandelblit wrote in his decision.
The indictment announcement comes just weeks before Israel’s April 9 election. Netanyahu is deadlocked in the polls and has characterized the accusations as politically motivated by the media and opposition.
Following the announcement, Netanyahu’s political party Likud shot back in a statement criticizing the decision. It said the charges were an effort by the Left to steer the election.
“A publication of the decision a mere month before the election, without giving the prime minister an opportunity to refute these false claims is a blatant and unprecedented interference in the election,” the statement reads.
Throughout his bid to retain office, Netanyahu has leaned heavily on his relationship with President Trump, even posting billboards showing the two of them shaking hands and lauding the U.S. decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Netanyahu has served as prime minister for four consecutive terms, and if formally indicted, he will be the first sitting prime minister to face criminal charges. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert served time in prison for corruption but resigned before being formally indicted.
Netanyahu is expected to make a statement later Thursday on the matter.
