Netanyahu's party accuses election rival of graft

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has accused his main election rival of "corruption" ahead of an April 9 poll as the premier himself awaits indictment on graft charges.

"Likud calls on the public prosecutor to open an immediate criminal investigation against Benny Gantz," Science Minister Ofir Akounis told journalists in Tel Aviv.

Citing a report issued by state comptroller Yossef Shapira, he said centrist Gantz, a former military chief and key challenger to Netanyahu, was directly implicated in a "serious case of corruption".

Shapira's report, released Wednesday, said Gantz had sought a contract with the Israeli police in 2016 for products produced by his high-tech company Fifth Dimension.