Benjamin Netanyahu, the first sitting prime minister of Israel to face a criminal trial, is set to testify for the first time when his corruption case resumes on Tuesday.
Netanyahu has repeatedly sought to delay his court appearance, where he faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of public trust in three separate cases.
On Tuesday, the Israeli premier is expected to take the witness stand for the first time, responding to the allegations against him, including testimonies from former close aides.
The last time Netanyahu physically appeared in court was in June 2023.
“I will speak in court. I am not running away,” Netanyahu said in a press conference on Monday evening. “It has been eight years that I have waited for this day, eight years of wanting to present the truth, eight years waiting to completely demolish these absurd and baseless accusations against me,” he declared, once again denouncing what he called a “relentless witch hunt.”
For security reasons, the trial has been moved from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, where Netanyahu will testify in an underground chamber.
– Luxury goods –
The trial, which began in May 2020, is expected to continue for several months, with an appeals process that could extend it even further.
Netanyahu, who has made multiple requests to delay the proceedings due to the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, denies all wrongdoing.
In the first case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods, including cigars, jewelry, and champagne, from billionaire benefactors in exchange for political favors.
Among the alleged benefactors are Israeli-born Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian business magnate James Packer.
The other two cases involve allegations that Netanyahu attempted to secure more favorable media coverage. One centers on alleged negotiations with Arnon Mozes, publisher of the popular Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, for better coverage in exchange for weakening the rival daily Israel Hayom. The other involves Netanyahu allegedly receiving favorable coverage on the popular news website Walla, owned by his close friend Shaul Elovitch, in return for facilitating a telecom merger that Elovitch sought.
Since returning to power in late 2022, Netanyahu’s coalition government has clashed with the country’s judiciary and law enforcement officials, sparking mass protests over proposed legislation to weaken the courts.
Critics of Netanyahu argue that the legal cases and ongoing hearings are essential for achieving justice for a deeply corrupt politician who is willing to go to any lengths to retain power. Some even accuse him of deliberately prolonging the 14-month conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon to avoid facing justice.
– ‘Important milestone’ –
Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, described the trial as having reached “an important milestone.” He noted that Netanyahu faces a conflict of interest, being both the prime minister and a criminal defendant, and that the trial has put him in direct confrontation with key institutions, especially the Justice Ministry.
Plesner added that being in a public setting and responding to tough questions from prosecutors could challenge Netanyahu, a leader accustomed to tightly controlling his public image.
On Monday, around a dozen ministers in Netanyahu’s coalition sent a letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, urging that the trial be postponed in light of the situation in Syria and the broader security concerns. The letter followed similar requests from both Netanyahu’s legal team and ministers, citing Israel’s ongoing conflicts and the prime minister’s heavy workload.
The prosecution has argued that it is in the public interest for the trial to conclude swiftly, and the court has denied all requests for delays. However, it has agreed to occasionally adjust the trial schedule, reducing hearing days from three to two per week to accommodate Netanyahu’s responsibilities.
While other Israeli leaders, including former prime minister Ehud Olmert, have been indicted and found guilty of criminal offenses—Olmert resigned before his trial—Netanyahu is the first sitting prime minister to take the stand in a criminal case.
“The fact that a very strong prime minister is being indicted and his legal case is being examined by the court is a sign of the strength of Israel’s democratic institutions,” Plesner remarked.
AFP
