Netanyahu key ally resigns as speaker of Israeli parliament

Yuli Edelstein quits amid row over decision to shut Knesset citing coronavirus crisis

The speaker of Israel's Knesset has resigned after fierce criticism of his refusal to reopen parliament, which he suspended last week citing a ban of large gatherings while the country tackled the coronavirus.

Yuli Edelstein - a close ally of Benjamin Netanyahu in the ruling Likud party - came under fire as the suspension was decried as an attempt to shield both him and the embattled prime minister.