An Israeli court on Sunday postponed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's graft trial over coronavirus.
Netanyahu had been scheduled to stand trial over alleged bribery, fraud and breach of trust -- charges which he denies.
Jerusalem's District Court said in a statement that, given the coronavirus pandemic, it had been instructed to hear "only urgent matters".
In Netanyahu's trial, "we have decided to postpone the first hearing until May 24," the court said.
Netanyahu has been charged with a range of offences including receiving improper gifts and offering a media mogul lucrative regulatory changes in exchange for favourable coverage.
Despite the indictments, Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party won the most seats in March 2 elections and he is aiming to form a new government.
However, Likud and its allies fell short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the Knesset (parliament). It was Israel's third inconclusive vote in less than a year, the Associated Press reported.
Netanyahu, ahead of a cabinet meeting on Sunday, to be held by teleconference in response to the virus, reissued his appeal to form a unity government with main challenger Benny Gantz, who heads the centrist Blue and White Party.
He urged Gantz to join a six-month alliance, which Netanyahu would lead.
"We must unite forces and form a strong and stable government that will be able to pass a budget and make tough decisions," Netanyahu said.
