If he wins, he would become Likud’s candidate for prime minister in the March polls. Netanyahu has portrayed Saar as inexperienced, while depicting himself as a security buff and master of international diplomacy. A similar incident happened in September when Netanyahu was in the nearby city of Ashdod campaigning for the second general Israeli election of the year. He denies wrongdoing and has waged an angry campaign against the media and law enforcement officials he said are bent on ousting him from office. The indictments against Netanyahu came amid months of political deadlock in Israel, which after two inconclusive elections is headed toward a third unprecedented national vote in less than a year.

Source: International New York Times December 26, 2019 07:13 UTC