Iran Press/ Middle East: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's criminal trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust is set to begin on March 17, an Israeli court announced today 18 February.
Netanyahu is charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust under a number of cases in which he is alleged to have accepted lavish gifts from billionaire friends and exchanged regulatory favors for more positive media coverage.
Those charges include offering favors to media moguls and of getting expensive gifts and positive press in return; such a case that has become known as Case 4000, in which Netanyahu allegedly promoted regulation that benefited a telecom company called the Bezeq Group, in exchange for favorable press coverage on a news site run by a subsidiary. Netanyahu denies the charges and says he is the victim of a politically motivated witch-hunt.
In a brief statement on Tuesday, the court said Netanyahu is expected to attend the initial hearing.
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