Netanyahu and lawyer to attend pre-indictment hearing in fall

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyer announced before a Monday deadline that he and the premiere will attend a pre-indictment hearing.

By World Israel News Staff and AP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyer said he will attend a pre-indictment hearing after his request to further postpone it was rejected.

The prime minister himself will attend the hearing as well, according to a report by Times of Israel.

Attorney Amit Hadad complained Monday that the hearing, set for October 2, should have been delayed to give him more time to prepare, but confirmed he would plead the prime minister’s case at the scheduled hearing.

Netanyahu, who is facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three corruption cases, asked Attorney General Avichai Mandeblit for a delay after new elections on September 17, which were triggered by an unprecedented political crisis.

But Mandelblit refused, pushing back on Netanyahu’s claim that the hearing would interfere with his campaign.

Netanyahu denies the accusations and rejects the prosecution as a media-orchestrated witch hunt. He can still appeal to the Supreme Court for a postponement.

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