Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will begin his pre-indictment hearing in three graft cases on Wednesday amid ongoing negotiations with his main rival about how to form the next coalition government to run the country after last month's repeat election.
He will attempt to head off accusations in investigations listed as cases 4000, 1000 and 2000, pending the outcome of the hearings. Netanyahu could face fraud and breach of trust charges in all three cases, and bribery charges in case 4000. The longest-serving Israeli premier could face fraud and breach of trust charges in all three cases, and bribery charges in case 4000. He denies any wrongdoing.
His political future hangs in the balance after his failure to win a clear victory in two parliamentary elections this year, in April and last month. He claims to be a victim of a politically orchestrated "witch-hunt" by the media and the left to oust him from office.
Case 4000 alleges that Mr Netanyahu granted regulatory favours to Israel's leading telecommunications company, Bezeq Telecom Israel, in return for positive coverage of him and his wife Sara on a news website controlled by the company's former chairman.
CASE 1000 alleges that Mr Netanyahu and his wife wrongfully received gifts from Arnon Milchan, a prominent Hollywood producer and Israeli citizen, and Australian billionaire businessman James Packer, including champagne and cigars.
In Case 2000, Mr Netanyahu is suspected of negotiating a deal with the owner of Israel's best-selling daily newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, for better coverage in return for legislation that would slow the growth of a rival daily newspaper.
The purpose of the pre-indictment hearing is to give his legal team the chance to argue against the charges and to convince the attorney-general to either scrap them or to reduce them.
It is unclear whether Mr Netanyahu will attend the hearings, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday and the following Sunday and Monday. After hearing the arguments, the attorney-general is expected to decide by the end of December whether to indict Mr Netanyahu.
If Mr Netanyahu is indicted it could take many months before his trial begins. Mr Netanyahu could also seek a plea deal rather than stand trial.
If he is still in office as prime minister, Mr Netanyahu would be under no strict legal obligation to quit. According to Israeli law, a prime minister must step down if ultimately convicted, but can stay in office throughout legal proceedings including appeals.
