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Indictment, a Plan and a Pardon: Israeli PM has a Wild Week

Associated Press

   JERUSALEM - MOSCOW (AP) -- When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
   Netanyahu left the White House after the unveiling of President Donald
   Trump's Mideast plan, which hugely favors Israel, he and his entourage
   could barely contain their glee as they boasted of realizing their
   dream of swiftly annexing large swaths of the West Bank.

   But by the time his plane had flown across the Atlantic Ocean, the mood
   had taken a downturn, with Netanyahu's annexation plan suddenly in
   question and an embarrassing criminal trial casting a cloud over his
   re-election hopes.

   Netanyahu's sojourn to Moscow, to bring home an Israeli backpacker
   jailed on drug charges that the prime minister had convinced Russia to
   pardon, capped a roller-coaster five-day journey during which he was
   also formally indicted on corruption charges.

   It's been quite a trip for Israel's longest-serving prime minister, who
   has portrayed himself as a master statesman as he fights for his
   political survival ahead of March 2 elections.

   It began Sunday, with grand proclamations upon departure about the
   great mission he was on, and about "making history" with Trump. On
   Monday, he beamed alongside Trump in the Oval Office, flaunting their
   friendship and lavishing praise upon the American president.
   

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