Israel's dramatic legal and political turmoil began on Monday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced the court in his corruption trial, attempting to form a government after another uncertain election reached a turning point.
The 71-year-old senior prime minister - who ran for his fourth election last month within two years - arrived at a court in Jerusalem where he was greeted by supporters and Opposition. The opposition called him Israel's "crime minister".
Israel's first prime minister has been ordered to appear in Jerusalem's district court to argue charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
Israel's first premier to be indicted in office was ordered to appear in
person at Jerusalem's District Court for arguments in a case
where is charged with bribery, fraud of breach of trust.
Israel is embroiled in the worst political crisis in its 73-year history, and voters and the 120-member parliament are divided over whether Netanyahu should extend his term for 12 consecutive years.
Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party won 30 seats in the election nearly two weeks ago, winning 30 seats, but his path to a 61seat absolute majority is precarious.
However, there is no clear leader in the camp against Netanyahu who is divided on ideology and will be forced to form a majority coalition.
Wearing a black mask and a dark suit, Netanyahu told Attorney General Leid Ben-Ari in the court that the prime minister was involved in a "serious corruption case in the government".
He has been accused of accepting improper gifts and demanding terms of trade in favor of media moguls in exchange for positive information - denying the allegations.
Ben-Ari said that Netanyahu "illegally used the great government power entrusted to him" in his actions with media officials "to improve his personal affairs".
With the judges' permission, Netanyahu left the courtroom before calling the first witness, Ilan Yeshua, the former chief executive of Walla's news site.
Joshua testified that he continued to receive instructions from Netanyahu's colleagues to post articles in favor of the Prime Minister and to convey information to his rivals.
"We are a website builder, they asked us in the Prime Minister's Office," Yeshua told the court.
According to Joshua's testimony, the main target of Netanyahu's consecration campaign was the Prime Minister's personal bodyguard, Naphtali Bennett, now leader of the religious nationalist Yamina Party.
This fact now warns Netanyahu of a political issue that would require Bennett's support to form the government.
Meanwhile, Rivlin, who has been at the base of the struggle against Netanyahu, has been meeting with presidential officials throughout the day.
Traditionally, he would give the Speaker a 28-day window to form a government from different legislators. It can be extended for 14 days at the discretion of the President.
Recommendations to control the 16 seats supporting the Netanyahu-led government, along with Likud and two radical Orthodox Jewish parties, continue as expected.
In the second round of elections, the moderate Yash Adi Party used 17 votes to support former television presenter Yar Lobit.
Lapid has won all eight seats occupied by Defense Minister Penny Kontz, Netanyahu's main rival, in the last three elections.
Kant's decision to join a short-term alliance led by Netanyahu influenced his political support.
When Lapit's final recommendation is uncertain, the coalition against Netanyahu will require a tight agreement with Kentz, Likud defector Gideon Charles, Bennett, and a group of leftist parties.
Yamina Bennett was approved by the Prime Minister, in another expected development.
But his status may change after Rivlin's order.
Without a precedent for Israeli coalition politics, it would not be possible to form a government without the support of the four-seat Conservative Islamist Ram Party.
Its leader, Mansoor Abbas, said he was ready to listen to all sides, but the right-wing religious Zionist Party decided to form a government with Rama, which further undermined the trust of Netanyahu's coalition.
If both the Prime Minister and the Netanyahu opposition camp fail to form an alliance, Israel could face a fifth election.
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