Netanyahu trial will take 6-7 years, and he can remain PM during it — official

29 January 2020, 5:46 pm

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A senior official in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s entourage says the Israeli leader is planning for his criminal trial to drag out for six or seven years, during which time he will seek to continue on as prime minister.

“He’ll run for election, win, and will have no problem with the trial. Netanyahu won’t have to divide his time between the Prime Minister’s Office and the courtroom. He’ll only show up when he needs to testify. This will happen after they grill hundreds of other witnesses.”

While a sitting prime minister who is indicted does not have to step down, Israel’s judicial system has yet to rule on whether a party leader who is under indictment can be tasked with forming a government.

— Shalom Yerushalmi