Israel’s High Court is to decide whether Benjamin Netanyahu can serve as its Prime Minister while under criminal indictment.

A panel of 11 judges will begin hearing a petition today launched by groups opposed to his remaining in office while facing charges.

Mr Netanyahu recently agreed a deal with Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to form a coalition government, ending a year of political vacuum.

Under the agreement, Israel’s longest-serving premier would lead for 18 months before the handing reins to Mr Gantz.

Avichai Mandelblit, the country’s Attorney-General, has said there is no provision for a Prime Minister to stand down – although cabinet ministers and mayors would have to step aside in similar circumstances.

Mr Netanyahu’s trial on charges of accepting bribes, fraud and breach of trust – which he denies – has been postponed because of the coronavirus crisis.

Eliad Shraga, of the Movement for Quality Government, one of the petitioning groups, was quoted by Ynet as saying it “unconscionable that a man like this will go in the morning to court to sit in the dock and in the evening will manage the security cabinet and send us and our children to battle”.