Netanyahu fights for political life

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his final attempt to fend off a corruption indictment yesterday when his lawyers argued against looming charges that have combined with election stalemate to threaten his long hold on power. The pre-trial hearings, scheduled to be held over four days, will allow him to make his case against indictment to Attorney-General (AG) Avichai Mandelblit in three graft investigations. A final decision by the AG on whether to file charges is expected by the end of 2019.