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Israel: Netanyahu back in court as President launches talks for coalition

Netanyahu faces various charges of corruption

Israel Politics Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves the Israeli Knesset (parliament) after a vote to dissolve the Knesset, in Jerusalem | AP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Monday, appeared in court for his corruption trial. Israel's President Reuven Rivlin launched talks with all parties before he nominates whoever he deems most suitable to form a coalition government.

Netanyahu faces various charges of corruption, accepting improper gifts from media moguls, seeking regulatory favours in exchange for positive coverage. Netanyahu has also been accused of accepting gifts from powerful businessmen in place of favours. Judges have ruled that Netanyahu can leave the courtroom after the opening statements.

Netanyahu has denied charges of corruption and called them a 'witch-hunt' by his political opponents. 

Lead prosecutor Liat Ben-Ari told judges that Netanyahu was involved in “a serious case of government corruption”. In the elections held on March 23, both Netanyahu's bloc and his opposition find themselves short of a majority. The right-leaning party Likud, led by Netanyahu is a lead with 30 seats in the 120-member parliament. The parliament is currently divided between those who back Netanyahu and those who wish to end his 12-year tenure.

Netanyahu's Likud is expected to obtain the support of 16 lawmakers representing Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties as well as six from the far-right Religious Zionism alliance. This takes the total of seats to 52, about nine short of a majority. The Islamic Raam Party controls four seats and it seems difficult for either bloc to create a coalition without support from the party. 

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