Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu asked Monday for a 45-day delay in his corruption trial due to open March 17, saying prosecutors had not provided all information relevant to the case.
His trial is scheduled to start two weeks after an election that saw Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party earn the most votes but fall three seats short of the 61 needed to form a majority in the parliament, or Knesset.
The election result raised the prospect that Netanyahu, the first Israeli premier to be indicted in office, will be seeking to form a government while standing trial.
A letter sent by Netanyahu's lawyers to the Jerusalem district court, seen by AFP, said that the premier's legal team "had not received all the documents related to the investigation."
However, the Taxes and Economy Prosecutor told the Jerusalem District Court that it opposes Netanyahu's request. It also said that the State does not require Netanyahu to respond to the charges on March 17, but does request that the hearing take place with both sides present, in order to determine the dates of future hearings.
Netanyahu has been indicted on various charges including receiving improper gifts and offering a media mogul lucrative regulatory changes in exchange for positive coverage. Legal experts have pointed out that the charges Netanyahu is being indicted for are unprecedented and strange, as well as endanger the freedom of the press and democracy.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has denied the allegations.