timesofisrael.com
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>Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s associates have reportedly told the premier that snap elections would likely deny him the time needed to pass legislation shielding him from prosecution in three corruption cases.
>That is just one of the issues said Tuesday evening to be concerning the prime minister amid a deadlock in coalition negotiations, some 24 hours before the Wednesday night deadline.
>Netanyahu has yet to ink a deal with any of his prospective coalition partners, and progress has stalled amid an impasse between the secular Yisrael Beytenu and ultra-Orthodox parties on the question of a bill regulating the military draft among the ultra-Orthodox. Lawmakers are pressing ahead with a bill to dissolve the Knesset and call new elections for September.
>Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has announced fraud and breach of trust charges against Netanyahu in three graft cases — pending a hearing — including bribery in one of them.
>Should he form the next coalition, the agreement with the other parties is expected to ease Netanyahu’s planned efforts to advance an immunity law and law change — dubbed the “override clause” — letting the Knesset re-legislate laws that have been struck down by the Supreme Court.
>“Under absolutely no circumstances can we go to elections,” Channel 13 news on Tuesday quoted an unnamed Netanyahu confidant as telling the premier in recent days. “If you go to elections there will be a situation where you must go to the hearing.
>After the elections, even if you win, you will be in a race to legislate the immunity law and the override clause, and there is a high chance you won’t manage to do that before a decision by the attorney general to file charges against you,” the official added.
>Following that advice, Netanyahu is doing all he can to avoid fresh elections, the report said.
