Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is lashing out at Israel’s justice system, saying his trial on corruption charges is an attempt to “depose” him.
He spoke on Sunday as he arrived at a Jerusalem courthouse for the start of his trial.
He called the trial an “attempt to eliminate the will of the people” and an “attempt to depose a strong right-wing leader.”
Netanyahu accused police and prosecutors of conspiring to “tailor”a case against him and called the claims “contaminated” and exaggerated.
Several members of his Likud party stood alongside him in support.
Netanyahu is set to appear at the opening hearing at a Jerusalem district court, after his request to have his lawyers represent him instead was rejected.
His court appearance comes just days after the long-serving leader swore in his new government, breaking more than a year of political stalemate following three inconclusive elections.
Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes in a series of corruption cases stemming from ties to wealthy friends.
He is accused of accepting lavish gifts and offering to grant favours to powerful media moguls in exchange for favorable coverage of him and his family.
Read the article by Aron Heller in The Australian.