Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyers said they would argue at pre-trial hearings against looming corruption charges that have combined with election stalemate to threaten his long hold on power.
The sessions, scheduled to be held over four days, provide Netanyahu with his last opportunity to make his case against indictment to Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit in three graft investigations.
A final decision by the attorney-general on whether to file charges is expected by the end of 2019.
Netanyahu, who denies any wrongdoing, faces no legal requirement to leave government if indicted, as long as he remains prime minister.
