Court rejects Netanyahu's bid to postpone trial

An Israeli court rejected on Tuesday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to postpone the opening session of his corruption trial.

A panel of judges with the Jerusalem District Court decided that the trial will begin on March 17.

The court also made clear that Netanyahu, like any other defendant in Israel, will be required to attend the opening session, in which the charges against him will be read.

The long-time leader is indicted with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate criminal cases.

Earlier this week, his lawyers requested to delay the start of the trial by 45 days, claiming that they need scanned copies of the evidentiary material after hard copies of the materials have been prepared for them.

The trial will start as the embattled leader struggles for his political survival after failing to gain enough votes to form a coalition in Israel's parliamentary elections on March 2.

Netanyahu, 70, is the first incumbent prime minister to stand trial in the history of Israel.