Netanyahu confidantes said to have warned PM that new elections would complicate legal situation

Officials in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s circle have told him in recent days that new elections would severely complicate his legal situation, Channel 13 news reports.

The officials have told the premier that if snap elections are to be called in mid-September as speculated, the 22nd Knesset that would be formed as a result would be in a race against time to pass legislation granting Netanyahu immunity before his pre-indictment hearing on October 2 or 3. Netanyahu is facing charges in three criminal cases against him.

The risk of not managing to pass the legislation by the time the attorney general makes a decision on whether to indict the prime minister would therefore increase significantly, the Netanyahu confidantes speculated, according to Channel 13.