Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's prime minister says he will not give up his re-election campaign even if the attorney general decides to file criminal charges.
Police have recommended that Netanyahu be indicted on corruption charges, but Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit must make the final decision. If he decides to indict, Netanyahu is still entitled to defend himself at a hearing before formal charges are filed. Mandelblit has not said whether he will act before April elections.
Speaking in Brazil on Monday, Netanyahu said the law does not require him to step aside before any hearing. He said Mandelblit should not take any action before the election unless the hearing can also be completed by then.
Netanyahu says "in a democracy, leaders are chosen through a vote, not through a partially completed legal process."
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
