- Title: Netanyahu's lawyers fight for the premier's political life for second day
- Date: 3rd October 2019
- Summary: JERUSALEM (OCTOBER 3, 2019) (REUTERS) CAR CARRYING ISRAEL'S ATTORNEY GENERAL AVICHAI MANDELBLIT ARRIVING AT JUSTICE MINISTRY MANDELBLIT ENTERING BUILDING STATE ATTORNEY SHAY NITZAN ENTERING BUILDING ONE OF NETANYAHU'S LAWYERS, YOSSI ASHKENAZI, ARRIVING AT JUSTICE MINISTRY BY FOOT EXTERIOR OF JUSTICE MINISTRY (SOUNDBITE) (English) ATTORNEY YOSSI ASHKENAZI, OF NETANYAHU'S LEGAL TEAM, SAYING: "We are expecting the second part of the pre-indictment hearing in case 4000. We started yesterday, we argued for about 11 hours and we expect to have a full day of arguments today, to be continued next week with the next two cases (1000 and 2000)." ASHKENAZI ENTERING JUSTICE MINISTRY COMPOUND LAWYER AMIT HADAD, OF NETANYAHU'S LEGAL TEAM, GETTING OUT CAR (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) LAWYER AMIT HADAD, OF NETANYAHU'S LEGAL TEAM, SAYING: "Good morning, how are you? (Question: can you relate today to what happened yesterday? What do we expect today?) Yesterday we presented half of our arguments in case 4000. I think the arguments were heard, they are good and true arguments, they are surprising, there is new evidence, there is a different explanation to everything that was argued in the draft indictment. Today we proceed, hoping we will be able to convince. We are certain that at the end of the day, when we finish these four days, these cases must be closed and they will be. Thank you very much, have a good day." HADAD WALKING INTO JUSTICE MINISTRY COMPOUND EXTERIOR OF JUSTICE MINISTRY DOZENS OF PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING IN SUPPORT OF NETANYAHU DEMONSTRATORS DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING NETANYAHU POSTERS SIGN READING 'NETANYAHU IS GOOD FOR ISRAEL' PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING AGAINST NETANYAHU
- Embargoed: 17th October 2019 13:58
- Keywords: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pre-trial hearing corruption cases protest
- Location: JERUSALEM
- City: JERUSALEM
- Country: Israel
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZJLPON
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Pre-trial hearings in three corruption cases against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered a second day on Thursday (October 3), during which the premier's legal team argue against looming corruption charges that have combined with election stalemate to threaten his long hold on power.
The pre-trial hearings, scheduled to be held over four days, will allow him to make his case against indictment to Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit in three graft investigations.
A final decision by the attorney-general on whether to file charges is expected by the end of 2019.
Netanyahu, who denies any wrongdoing, faces no legal requirement to leave government if indicted, as long as he remains prime minister.
But his aura of political invincibility has been clouded by his failure to win a clear victory in parliamentary elections in April and last month, after a decade in office as head of the right-wing Likud party.
(Production: Sinan Abu Mizar, Lee Marzel, Rinat Harsh) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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