AFP, JERUSALEMIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday asked parliament for immunity, weeks after the embattled leader was indicted on a range of corruption charges. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, is fighting for his political survival on two fronts — the corruption allegations and stiff opposition from a new centrist party. The prime minister’s spokesman, Ofer Golan, later confirmed that the request had been submitted to the speaker of the Knesset. A sitting prime minister is only required to step down once convicted and after all avenues of appeal have been exhausted, but legal experts have asked the Israeli Supreme Court to rule on whether a prime minister can be tasked by the president with forming a new government while under indictment. The allegations against the prime minister include receiving thousands of dollars of gifts and offering to change regulations in exchange for positive media coverage.

Source: Taipei Times January 02, 2020 15:56 UTC