The Jewish state woke up to an indicted sitting prime minister for the first time, after the country's attorney general announced late Thursday he had charged the 70-year-old with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. AdvertisementAny trial is likely months away, and -- if Netanyahu is found guilty -- a final conviction exhausting appeals could take years. GANTZ ADVANTAGENetanyahu's centrist rival Benny Gantz may now seek to encourage defections either from within the PM's Likud party or from allied right-wing parties. "What is going on here is an attempt to stage a coup against the prime minister," Netanyahu declared in a televised response to the charges. Under Israeli law, while ministers cannot remain in place after being indicted, a prime minister is not legally required to resign unless convicted with appeals processes exhausted.

Source: Daily Nation November 22, 2019 12:33 UTC