Israel’s attorney general has filed a formal indictment in court against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
It comes after Mr Netanyahu withdrew his request for parliamentary immunity from prosecution on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in connection with three separate cases. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The Prime Minister was visiting Washington ahead of the release of US President Donald Trump’s long-delayed Israel-Palestinian peace plan when the charges were filed in a Jerusalem court.
The Israeli parliament had been due to debate on the immunity request on Tuesday but Mr Netanyahu said he would not have got a fair hearing.
He also criticised opponents for going ahead with the debate as the peace plan was due to be unveiled.
In a statement issued on his official Facebook page, Mr Netanyahu, said he “decided not to let this dirty game continue”.
He continued: “In this fateful hour for the people of Israel, when I am in the United States on a historic mission to design the permanent borders of Israel and ensure our security for decades to come, the Knesset is expected to open another exhibition in the circus of removing immunity.”
Hours after the announcement, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit filed a 78-page indictment to the Jerusalem District Court.
It is the first time a serving Israeli prime minister has been formally charged with criminal offences.
The court will now set a date for the start of Mr Netanyahu's trial.
Even if convicted, Mr Netanyahu would not be required to step down as prime minister until the appeals process was exhausted.
Israeli officials said the PM will fly to Moscow on Wednesday to brief President Vladmir Putin on the Middle-East plan.
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