Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu officially presented a request for immunity Wednesday evening in a 71-point letter handed to Yuli Edelstein, Speaker of the Knesset, in connection with the indictments he faces in three criminal cases.
The letter, written by the prime minister’s defense attorneys Amir Haddad and Yossi Ashkenazi, asked for immunity on the grounds that he was unfairly singled out, and that prosecuting the prime minister would harm the functioning of the government and the Knesset. They also argue the prime minister is innocent.
Netanyahu said in a speech that he is not evading justice because the immunity he requests only lasts for the term of the Knesset that grants the request.
Speaking at Jerusalem’s Orient Hotel, Netanyahu added that he has been the victim of a kangaroo court, ridiculing accusations that he has received positive news coverage.
“The immunity law is intended to protect elected officials from manufactured cases and guarantee that those elected by the people can serve the people according to their will and not the will of the legal officials.”