The blunt truth is that the likely indictment of Benjamin Netanyahu shames Israel. It shames any nation when its leader is alleged to be corrupt; and it shames Israel that corruption is historically such a feature of its politics.

But for all that, it should be a source of some pride to Israelis that they live in a nation where no one is too mighty and too powerful to be subject to the law. The rule of law is the essence of democracy and in that context Israel always seeks to deal with criminality among its governing classes. There are many other nations on earth — not least most of its neighbours — that could learn from Israel’s example.