Preliminary Corruption Hearings Against Netanyahu Delayed Until October - Reports

Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit has postponed until October Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's preliminary hearings in three corruption cases he is implicated in, local media reported on Wednesday

TEL AVIV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd May, 2019) Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit has postponed until October Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's preliminary hearings in three corruption cases he is implicated in, local media reported on Wednesday.

According to the Haaretz newspaper, Mendelblit's decision came after Netanyahu's lawyers asked him to delay the hearings in the three corruption cases against the prime minister for a year so that the defense could prepare. The attorney general refused and set the hearings for October, saying that one year was too long a wait and would harm "public interest of a swift decision."

The hearing will be held from October 2-3 with an additional day possible if needed.

In February, the Israeli attorney general accused Netanyahu of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Each crime which will be examined separately.

The first one, Case 1000, details accusations of accepting gifts from wealthy business figures in return for political favors. In Case 2000, Netanyahu is charged with acting favorable toward the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper's publisher, Arnon Mozes, in exchange for friendly news coverage. Case 4000 implies possible charges for the same deal with Shaul Elovitch, the controlling shareholder of telecommunications company Bezeq and, by extension, its news website, Walla.