Israel PM made ‘illegitimate use’ of power

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu made "illegitimate use" of his power and saw favours as "currency", a prosecutor has alleged at his corruption trial. 

Liat Ben Ari told a court in Jerusalem that he sought "improper benefits from owners of major media in Israel in order to advance his personal affairs".

Mr Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing.

The hearing comes as Israel's president meets parliamentarians to ask whom they support to form the next government following last month's election.

It failed to end the long period of political stalemate that has led to four elections in two years, leaving both Mr Netanyahu's right-wing bloc and the parties opposed to him short of a majority. 

Once President Reuven Rivlin has consulted all the parties, he will nominate whoever he thinks has the best chance of forming a governing coalition.

"I do not see a way in which a government can be established," Mr Rivlin told members of the Yesh Atid party of opposition leader Yair Lapid. "The people of Israel should be very concerned that we may be dragged into a fifth election."

Mr Netanyahu's rivals fear that if he remains prime minister he will push through legislation that would grant him immunity from prosecution while in office. He rejects such a claim.