Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit rejected on Friday a plea by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to postpone until after April elections a decision on whether he will indict him on corruption charges.
He said there was no legal reason that bars him from announcing the indictment before the April 9 snap elections.
Mandelblit stressed that his team was still examining the case materials and intended to make a decision as soon as possible.
Netanyahu is facing possible charges in three graft cases. He denies any wrongdoing and has called the cases a witch-hunt.
He is still the favorite to win the election but opinion polls show one of his toughest challengers, former general Benny Gantz, making gains.
Mandelblit said he had informed Netanyahu’s lawyers “there is no impediment to making and publishing a decision, if there is any, to consider filing an indictment in the cases relating to the prime minister, or part of them, subject to a hearing, even before the election date.”
He explained that suspending the legal process would "violate the principle of equality before the law" and interfere with "the public's right to know."
Netanyahu has said he would not bow out of the race if Mandelbit announces his intention to accept police recommendations to indict him.
Police have recommended indicting the premier on the corruption cases but Mandelblit makes the final decision.
If he decides to indict, Netanyahu is entitled to defend himself at a hearing before formal charges are filed.
Police say Netanyahu granted regulatory favors to leading telecommunications company Bezeq Telecom Israel in return for more positive coverage on a news website belonging to the firm’s owner.
In a second case, police contend that Netanyahu received expensive gifts from rich friends. A third investigation focuses on suspicions that Netanyahu negotiated a deal with one newspaper for better coverage in return for promises to back legislation that would have limited the circulation of a rival.
