Jerusalem |  Fighting for his future, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said he was asking parliament to grant him immunity from prosecution in three graft cases, a rare and contentious step that critics said violated the principle of equality before the law.

The immunity request is the latest twist in the political and legal drama that has paralysed the Israeli government for nearly a year. It could delay for months the cases against Netanyahu, who faces a general election in two months. And if it is approved, immunity could keep him out of court for as long as he remains a member of parliament.