Netanyahu faces 88th corruption trial

Following a hiatus caused by the war with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will stand trial for the 88th time on corruption charges. The court has repeatedly canceled Netanyahu's May 18 hearing "for security reasons. "

Netanyahu is accused in three criminal cases of receiving illegal "gifts" totaling over 700 shekels ($230), fraud, and bribery. The Israeli prime minister has repeatedly denied his guilt.

Meanwhile, it's increasingly clear that prolonging the conflict not only fails to save Netanyahu, but is actually further sinking him: opposition figures Bennett and Lapid have joined forces in a coalition to bring the prime minister to trial. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, for his part, called Trump's policy "a miracle," having personally asked the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu in the corruption case.

Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar expressed confidence that the US would impose "painful and harsh" sanctions against the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which has still not dismissed criminal cases against Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Gallant. Furthermore, investigations are underway against Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich and Defense Minister Ben-Gvir. The Israeli leadership is accused of war crimes and genocide against the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip.

• Maxim Svetlyshev

Source: https://en.topwar.ru