Israel PM Netanyahu charged with corruption in three separate cases

Israel's attorney general has charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in connection with three separate cases. Mr Netanyahu is alleged to have accepted gifts from wealthy businessmen and dispensed favours to try to get more positive press coverage.

The prime minister described the charges as an attempted coup, blaming them on a tainted process. He has also insisted he will not resign and is not legally obliged to do so.

In a



televised speech, Mr Netanyahu said authorities were not after the truth but him and called on the country to investigate the investigators.

Earlier, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said, he made the decision with a heavy heart, adding that it showed nobody was above the law in Israel.

The announcement comes amid a political stand-off in Israel following two inconclusive general elections in April and September.