Among the contenders is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of Likud and Israel’s longest-serving premier who is shadowed by his ongoing corruption trial. Those judicial proceedings are slated to recommence next week, as Rivlin meets with Netanyahu and other party leaders. His invocation of trust comes after 12 divisive years under Netanyahu, who stands accused of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. Senior Likud party politicians responded to Rivlin’s remarks, saying in a joint statement that “the president does not determine the results of the election! That arrangement collapsed with the government’s failure to pass a national budget, which automatically triggered the election.

Source: Egypt Independent March 31, 2021 09:22 UTC