Conservative New York Times columnist Bret Stephens called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the "Richard Nixon of Israeli politics" on Friday while urging the leader to step down in the face of an indictment on corruption charges.

Stephens, who once lived in Israel and has supported Netanyahu on his outspoken criticism regarding the Iran nuclear deal that was struck during the Obama administration, also called the prime minister "cunning" and "canny" but "toxically flawed."

"When the final chapter on Benjamin Netanyahu’s political life is written — and it may be a long time from now — he is likely to go down as the Richard Nixon of Israel: politically cunning, strategically canny, toxically flawed," he wrote in a Times op-ed.

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"Just as Nixon’s achievements in domestic and foreign policy were undone by skulduggery and paranoia, Netanyahu’s legacy has been permanently tarred by his apparent corruption, his appeals (or indifference) to bigotry and his demonization of his political opponents," he later adds. "Lest it be forgotten, both Gantz and Lapid are veterans of Netanyahu’s governments."

Benny Gantz leads the political alliance Blue White along with Yair Lapid. The alliance is challenging Netanyahu and his Likud party in April's election.

On Thursday evening, Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit announced his decision to indict Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust, pending a hearing, as part of three corruption investigations. The announcement came just 40 days before Israelis go to the polls.

Netanyahu has served as prime minister of Israel twice, first from 1996 to 1999 and again starting in 2009.