Former state prosecutor: Netanyahu knows his legal situation ‘is very bad’

Former state prosecutor Moshe Lador says presumed incoming prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is aware he’s in serious legal jeopardy from his ongoing trial on corruption charges.

“Netanyahu understands his legal situation is very bad. If he’s convicted, it’s a short distance to prison,” Lador tells Channel 12 news.

Netanyahu faces charges of fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases, as well as bribery in one of them. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and claimed without evidence that the indictments against him are an effort by political rivals, the media, police and prosecutors to force him from office.

Lador, who oversaw the prosecution of ex-premier Ehud Olmert, also hits out at Netanyahu over the proposed reforms championed by members of his expected new coalition, which would drastically reduce judicial authority if passed.

“The State of Israel is dramatically changing the face of the rule of law and the judicial system, in a heavy-handed and very difficult way. The first to understand this… was Mr. Netanyahu. That was his opinion for years and now he is likely agreeing to form a coalition together with those who are pushing these initiatives forward,” he says.