Israel goes to the polls with Netanyahu in the sights of justice

The Israelis are going to the polls again this Monday, the 2nd, in the third time in less than a year. More than ever, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bets all his chips on the election to ensure his political survival and the country's leadership, after the last two votes ended inconclusively and his party, Likud, was unsuccessful. to form a coalition government with the other legends.

On the way to the premier is Benny Gantz , leader of the center-right Blue and White party. The retired general refused for months to negotiate the formation of a union government with Bibi, as Netanyahu is known, claiming that he would not align himself with a politician investigated for corruption.

The prime minister  was indicted in three court cases - for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. In two of them, he is accused of exchanging favors for positive coverage in the local press. In the third for receiving gifts worth 700,000 shekels (about 853,000 reais) from a Hollywood producer. Bibi's trial is scheduled for March 17, just over two weeks after the election.

Israeli law provides that any minister subject to criminal prosecution must resign, but this does not apply to the prime minister. If he succeeds in forming a government and becomes prime minister, Netanyahu will be safe for a few more years. Otherwise, your political future will be seriously threatened. 

Immunity

Although Benjamin Netanyahu may remain prime minister, he does not enjoy judicial immunity. Netanyahu asked Parliament, in early January, to give him this benefit after the March 2 legislative elections, betting on his victory to obtain a majority and thus protect himself from justice.

But opposition parties convinced the majority of deputies to examine his request for immunity before the elections. In the face of early rejection of his request, Netanyahu withdrew his request in late January.

Researches

The latest opinion polls show Likud slightly ahead of Blue and White, with the advantage of just one seat in Parliament, the Knesset, but without enough support to reach the majority. Third in the polls is the Joint List, the coalition of four mainly Arab parties, which would never form a coalition with Netanyahu.

The Israeli Knesset is made up of 120 seats, and a majority of 61 deputies are needed to form the government. For now, the expectation is that no party or political group will be able to overcome this margin. Most likely, Israel will have another election with an inconclusive result