Benjamin Netanyahu charged over series of corruption scandals amid Israel election chaos

Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been indicted with all three charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery relating to a a series of corruption scandals.

Allegations against Mr Netanyahu include suspicions that he accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars of champagne and cigars from billionaire friends, offered to trade favors with a newspaper publisher, and used his influence to help a wealthy telecom magnate in exchange for favorable coverage on a popular news site.

Mr Netanyahu, who has been in power since 2009, strongly denies all the charges.

It comes as he fights for his political future with the prospect of a third election in less than twelve months.

Neither he nor centrist rival Benny Gantz have been able to form a governing coalition after September polls left them nearly neck and neck.

The corruption allegations, which have been under investigation for several years, are widely seen as a crucial issue for his political future.

The indictment is likely to permanently damage Netanyahu's political career. He is under no legal obligation to resign after being charged.