Israeli PM Holds Tense Cabinet Meeting as Indictment Looms

World

November 24th, 11:07am

Asharq Al-Awsat

In this July 7, 2019 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures, during the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem. (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a noticeably tense Cabinet meeting. It is his first since Israel’s attorney general announced Netanyahu will be indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Netanyahu did not mention the looming indictment during Sunday’s weekly meeting. Instead, he projected an attitude of business as usual, discussing Iranian belligerency, threats from Gaza and domestic affairs. His typically talkative ministers remained noticeably silent. This has been their first public appearances since the attorney general’s announcement Thursday. Netanyahu’s party has long pledged loyalty to its leader. But his top rival within the party is calling for an immediate primary vote to replace him, sowing the first seeds of rebellion. Replacing Netanyahu offers perhaps the most likely option of preventing a looming third election within a year.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2006301/israeli-pm-holds-tense-cabinet-meeting-indictment-looms