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Report: Israeli PM opposes early elections amid corruption probes

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Report: Israeli PM opposes early elections amid corruption probes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes holding early elections in June as suggested by media reports, amid multiple corruption probes, Agence France-Press said.

"There is no reason for that to happen if there is goodwill," Netanyahu said, adding that he hopes his coalition partners have goodwill for him. The prime minister is committed to serve his term and seek re-election in November 2019, the Financial Times reported.

Netanyahu and his wife were questioned by Israeli police on March 2 in relation to a third corruption probe. The couple were interrogated about their relationship with the majority shareholder of Bezeq Israel Telecom Ltd., Netanyahu's friend, the FT noted, citing Israel Radio and other local media. According to the police and local media, the Bezeq shareholder received regulatory benefits to provide favorable coverage for the prime minister in a Bezeq-owned news website Walla.

Netanyahu denied the allegations, the FT said, and called these probes a "witch hunt." The prime minister is facing two other corruption cases but this was the first time he was questioned in a corruption probe.

So far, Netanyahu has the support of his coalition and polls show that the opposition is not moved enough by the allegations to topple the prime minister in early elections.

Netanyahu is due to hold talks in Washington with U.S. President Donald Trump on March 5.