The Associated Press reports:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s indictment has sharpened the battle lines in Israel’s deadlocked political system and could test the loyalty of his right-wing allies, Israeli commentators said Friday.
The serious corruption charges announced Thursday have dashed already slim hopes for a unity government after September elections, paving the way for an unprecedented repeat vote in March, which will be the third in less than a year.
In an angry speech late Thursday, Netanyahu lashed out at investigators and vowed to fight on in the face of an “attempted coup.” Netanyahu was indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust stemming from three long-running corruption cases.