Editorial: What now for Israel’s great survivor?

Benjamin Netanyahu has no intention of resigning unless he has to, which he legally doesn’t, so he will still lead Likud into elections unless there is a putsch from within.

The big immediate question is whether Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit will release all the documentation from the police investigations, as would normally happen.

Bibi’s lawyers know the press would have a field day if he did, so they’ve been clambering to stop this from happening for fear of its effect at the ballot box.

The legal process is an arduous and onerous one, hence why past prime ministers have resigned to fight the charges.

But Bibi’s lawyers may succeed in arguing it should not come to trial (which is what he’ll tell  anxious would-be coalition partners ). 

All eyes will now be on his potential partners and what they say about serving in a Bibi government if he has been indicted. Crucial to the parliamentary equations may be Moshe Kahlon, who leads centrist party Kulanu. Kahlon has been clear Bibi could not continue as prime minister if indicted, and that he would not serve under him if he had. With some important seats, Kahlon could yet be kingmaker – or, more likely, king breaker.

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