Even seasoned observers are intoxicated by the appeal of a national unity government. But this is a recipe for paralysis at a time when bold changes are needed to relieve the heavy financial burden carried by working Israelis.

The Malaysian prime minister felt compelled to defend his right to voice his hatred of Jews. He has a point and, if Columbia University takes it to heart, it will soon be inviting global leaders who are anti-black, anti-women, anti-Hispanic, and anti-LGBTQ.

The protests, which started on Tuesday over unemployment, corruption, and poor public services, have escalated, with many chanting for the "fall of the regime," a slogan first popularized during the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings.

"Today, we will present all the evidence that everyone knows and some new evidence," Amit Hadad, one of Netanyahu's attorneys, told reporters outside Mendelblit's office. "We believe that all three cases will be dropped after the hearings."

What is the purpose of the pretrial hearings? • What happens if Prime Minister Netanyahu is charged? • If convicted in a trial, what does Netanyahu face?