President Donald Trump walks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to an event in the White House.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit presented the charge sheet to the Jerusalem district court, where Netanyahu will face trial for corruption over gifts and favourable media coverage received in return for regulatory and financial benefits. “A few minutes ago I informed the Knesset speaker that I’m withdrawing the immunity request,” Netanyahu said on Facebook. “I won’t let my political opponents use this issue to disturb the historic move I’m leading.”
Netanyahu denies the charges against him and says he is the victim of a politically motivated witch-hunt.His opponents had already mustered a majority in the legislature to deny him immunity.“It’s good the prime minister did what should have been done and gave up on his request for immunity,” he told AFP.
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz said voters should not elect a candidate too busy fighting legal battles to run the country. “The PM’s decision to withdraw his immunity request was necessary, given the insane, hate filled conduct of the Left, led by Blue and White,” he wrote on Twitter.Netanyahu was to appear alongside Trump to make public the peace proposal, which has already been rejected by the Palestinians.