Netanyahu suffering from ‘paranoid delusion’ – Opposition leader

An Israeli opposition leader said on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was suffering from a “paranoid delusion” if he thought that his corruption trial was only aimed at removing him from office.

A spokesman cited opposition leader Yair Lapid as saying that someone who believes that thousands of people including investigators, journalists, judges, and politicians were part of a vast conspiracy to topple a right-wing leader “isn’t fit to be prime minister.”

Netanyahu launched a fiery tirade against Israel’s justice system on Sunday as the corruption trial against him got under way.

Israel’s longest-serving prime minister was officially indicted on bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in January.

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The 70-year-old is accused of offering political favours in return for positive press coverage, and helping wealthy business contacts in return for gifts including champagne and cigars.

Netanyahu has repeatedly denied all accusations against him.

The trial comes one week after he was sworn in as the head of an emergency unity government including his Likud party and the centrist Blue and White Alliance of his former main rival Benny Gantz.

(dpa/NAN)