Benjamin Netanyahu will face trial on corruption charges on March 17, two weeks after election day, a court announced on Tuesday.

The Israeli Prime Minister is alleged to have accepted lavish gifts from billionaire friends and used one of his ministerial positions to influence a regulator in exchange for positive media coverage.

He has been charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust and will be expected to attend the first day of the trial in person, the court said.

It will come a fortnight after the third Knesset election in less than a year is held on March 2.

Opinion polls suggest Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party is again running neck-and-neck with the opposition Blue & White, an outcome that would be in keeping with the inconclusive two elections of 2019.