Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been formally charged with fraud, breach of trust and bribery. Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit issued the ruling on Thursday.
Netanyahu is charged with accepting thousands of dollars, cigars and champagne from Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and other billionaires, and working out immoral deals to obtain positive media coverage.
The prime minister has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the charges against him as part of a "witch hunt."
“There is nothing to these (allegations),” he said in February. “This entire house of cards will collapse.”
If convicted of bribery, Netanyahu could face up to 10 years in prison.
Israel is in a political wilderness at the moment. Both Netanyahu and his opponent Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White party, failed to form governments following the September election. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin recently told parliament, the Knesset, that they need to pick a prime minister by Dec. 11, or they may be looking at a third election.
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