Netanyahu Decries ‘Attempted Coup’ Against Him After Corruption Charges

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday called the corruption charges filed against him "an attempted coup" against an acting prime minister, and that the process is meant to topple him.

Earlier Thursday, Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit announced he was indicting Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three corruption cases, marking the first time an acting Israeli prime minister is charged with such offenses.

In a televised statement that was closed to the press, Netanyahu said that while he holds Israel's judicial authorities in high regard,  "you would have to be blind not to see that something bad is happening with the police and the prosecution, because tonight we are witnessing an attempted government coup against the prime minister through blood libels and a biased investigation process."