Netanyahu pre-indictment hearing underway in Jerusalem

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first pre-indictment hearing is still underway at the Justice Ministry’s headquarters on Salah ad-Din Street in Jerusalem.

The hearing began several hours ago. The prime minister’s attorneys, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, State Attorney Shai Nitzan, the prosecutor in Netanyahu’s corruption probes Liat Ben-Ari, and many other officials are taking part in the hearing.

Netanyahu’s attorneys, Amit Hadad and Ram Caspi, tell reporters outside the building that the prime minister is not seeking a plea deal, and that he believes the hearings will “unquestionably” result in the cancellation or dramatic reduction of the charges Netanyahu will face in any future indictment.

Netanyahu is suspected of breach of trust and fraud charges in three corruption probes, and of bribery in one of them.