The trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges will open on March 17, the justice ministry said Tuesday. It said the indictment would be read by judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman in the presence of Netanyahu in Jerusalem. The announcement comes as the 70-year-old prime minister campaigns ahead of March 2 elections, Israels third in less than a year, after two previous polls resulted in a deadlock between Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz. Gantz had refused after September elections to join a unity government led by Netanyahu, saying he must first settle his differences with the judiciary before taking power. Netanyahu was charged in the autumn last year with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit formally presented the charge sheet to the Jerusalem district court on January 28 after Netanyahu had withdrawn a request seeking parliamentary immunity lodged earlier that month. His opponents had already mustered a majority in the legislature to deny him immunity. Netanyahu is Israels only head of government to have been indicted during his term in office. Under Israeli law, a sitting prime minister is only required to step down once convicted of an offense and after all avenues of appeal have been exhausted. Netanyahu denies the charges and says he is the victim of a politically motivated witch-hunt. Since he was indicted in November, Netanyahus campaign has tried to make voters forget about the looming trial by portraying him as a global statesman and focusing on his close relationship with President Donald Trump. Gantz has sought to highlight Netanyahus legal troubles, arguing that he is unfit to serve as prime minister while he is a defendant. Gantz said Monday he would work to mend ties with the US Democratic Party if he wins the election. He accused Netanyahu of neglecting bipartisan ties in Washington in favor of exclusive support from Trumps Republican Party. Gantz, who leads the Blue and White party, said it was "very important that we will emphasize the importance of bipartisan relationship between Israel and the United States."