Speaking with the Channel 2 News ‘Meet the Press’ program on motzei Shabbos, Yesh Atid party chairman, MK Yair Lapid explained his new partner, chairman of the Israel Resilience party Benny Gantz and he will decide if they would sit in the same coalition government with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu after consulting with the state’s Attorney General, Avichai Mandelblit regarding the latter’s recommendation vis-à-vis criminal indictments against Mr. Netanyahu.

When asked if they would sit with Netanyahu in a coalition if there is a recommendation for a criminal indictment against him, Lapid explained that Benny Gantz stated he would have to weigh the matter when an Mandelblit announces his recommendation. As the interview continued, Lapid added, “In any event, I would not sit in a coalition with Netanyahu”.

According to recent news, Mandelblit is expected to recommend criminal indictments to be filed against the prime minister in Case 2000, the less severe of the cases, and Case 4000, in which Mr. Netanyahu is suspected of involvement in bribes, breach of trust and other white-collar crimes.

In his first address, Gantz stated he would not sit in a coalition with PM Netanyahu if a criminal indictment was filed against him. However, an indictment is only handed down after the hearing process, a process which is lengthy, and Gantz clarified that in his opinion, Mr. Netanyahu may continue in his post during that period and he does not rule out entering into a coalition with him during that time period as well.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)