Israel’s attorney general on Thursday announced he will indict Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges, local media reported. Although corruption and graft charges are not unusual in Israeli politics, the country has also never had a sitting prime minister convicted of a crime. Israeli law does not require a prime minister to step down even if they are indicted, however, and Netanyahu has made it clear he will contest the charges against him as he attempts to remain in power. Prior to the charges, Netanyahu was widely expected to win re-election in April’s vote, but fall far short of the numbers needed for majority rule. If Netanyahu does manage to win in April and successfully form a government, he stands to become Israel’s longest-serving prime minister.

Source: Huffington Post February 28, 2019 16:18 UTC