The High Court of Justice rejected a petition by the Likud and a supporter of Benjamin Netanyahu to block Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit's announcement of an intent to indict the prime minister on Thursday.
Mandelblit had indicated over the course of the week that he would issue his landmark decision on Thursday, but suddenly late Thursday morning everything was up for questioning when the Likud joined a petition by Netanyahu supporter Yossi Fuchs to delay the decision until after the April 9 elections.
For several hours the entire legal and political establishments went on pause until Justice Noam Sohlberg rejected the request for a delay at around 4:00 p.m.
Mandelblit is expected to indict Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in Case 4000, "the Bezeq-Walla Affair," and for breach of trust in Case 1000, "the Illegal Gifts Affair." No decision has been formally leaked regarding Case 2000, the" Yediot Aharonot-Israel Hayom Affair," but indications are that either the case will be closed, or the charge will also be only for breach of trust, not bribery.
With Sohlberg's decision, Mandelblit's announcement is now expected to go forward later on Thursday.