Israeli police recommend indicting Netanyahu in telecom graft case

Israeli police are recommending Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu be indicted in a corruption case involving Israel's telecom giant, charges the leader strongly denies.

Police on Sunday said they have established an evidentiary foundation to charge Netanyahu and his wife Sara with accepting bribes, fraud and breach of trust.

The case revolves around suspicions that confidants of Netanyahu promoted regulations worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the Bezeq telecom company in exchange for positive coverage of the prime minister on Bezeq's news website, Walla.

Police have already recommended indicting Netanyahu on corruption charges in two other cases, one involving accepting gifts from billionaire friends, and the second over trading positive media coverage for advantageous legislation for a newspaper.

The prime minister has denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the accusations as a witch hunt orchestrated by the media.

Separately, Netanyahu's wife Sara went on trial in October for allegedly using state funds to fraudulently pay for hundreds of meals. The case has been adjourned until 13 November.

Netanyahu has strongly denied all accusations against him and his family, calling them a bid by his political enemies to force him from office.

He has been prime minister for a total of more than 12 years, from 1996 to 1999 and again since 2009.

Netanyahu is not legally required to step down if indicted - only if he is convicted with all appeals exhausted