Mr. Netanyahu faces possible charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in connection with three cases.
Culminating a two-year police investigation, Israel Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced his intention to indict Netanyahu on bribery, breach of trust and fraud charges.
The prime minister is suspected of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts from billionaires — including expensive champagne and cigars — and doing favors for an Israeli media magnate in exchange for favorable coverage in newspapers and the internet.
The justice ministry must hold a hearing to give Netanyahu a chance to defend himself before formal charges are filed — a process that could take months.
A general election is scheduled April 9. Netanyahu has the support of the Israeli right wing, including anti-Palestinian nationalists and religious hard-liners. But he is expected to face a tough challenge from a coalition of centrist parties.