Lapid calls on Likud to ditch Netanyahu after police recommendations in Bezeq case

Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid calls on the ruling Likud party to toss aside Prime Minister Netanyahu as its leader after police recommend he be charged with bribery in a corruption case involving the Bezeq telecommunications firm.

“This is a sad day, sad for all Israeli citizens… as well as for all those who have known Netanyahu for dozens of years like myself and others, and saw the process of corruption caused by too many years in power,” Lapid, whose Yesh Atid party is part of the opposition, says in a statement.

Lapid says Israel “deserves more” and shouldn’t be run by a prime minister immersed in legal troubles, while also calling for early elections.

“Likud needs to choose someone else from its ranks who will lead the country to elections that will come soon,” he says.