Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was back in a Tel Aviv court on Wednesday for the latest hearing in his long-running corruption trial, which first began in May 2020.
Netanyahu, accompanied by several ministers from his right-wing Likud party, maintained a smiling demeanour despite being heckled by protesters as his convoy made its way to the courthouse.
His court appearance comes just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly called for him to be pardoned in the three separate corruption cases he currently faces.
The hearing also follows the return of several Israeli hostages from Gaza, as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal led by Trump to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
In one of the cases, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting over $260,000 worth of luxury gifts — including champagne, cigars, and jewellery — from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favours.
In two additional cases, the prime minister is charged with attempting to secure favourable media coverage by allegedly negotiating quid pro quo arrangements with executives at Israeli news outlets. Netanyahu denies all wrongdoing and insists the charges are part of a politically motivated witch-hunt.
Since returning to office in late 2022, Netanyahu has pushed for controversial judicial reforms, which critics say aim to weaken Israel’s judiciary and shield him from legal consequences. The proposals sparked massive nationwide protests that only subsided after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.
Speaking before the Knesset on Monday, Trump made light of the accusations against Netanyahu and called for a pardon.
“Cigars and champagne — who the hell cares about that?” Trump said, addressing Israeli President Isaac Herzog. “Why don’t you give him a pardon?”
Netanyahu is also facing international scrutiny, with the International Criminal Court (ICC) having issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes in Gaza during the Israeli military’s response to Hamas.
Having served as prime minister for more than 18 years across multiple terms since 1996, Netanyahu remains Israel’s longest-serving leader — and now one of its most controversial.
AFP
