Corruption trial: Netanyahu to give testimony in underground bunker
For security reasons, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will give testimony in his corruption trial next week in an underground, fortified room at the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court, the Courts Administration said on Monday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a graduation ceremony for an Israel Defense Forces officers’ course at Camp Laskov in the Negev Desert on Oct. 31, 2024. Photo by Eitan Elhadez-Barak/TPS-IL
Netanyahu’s corruption trial has been taking place at the Jerusalem District Court. The Court Administration said the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) provided “top secret” information about threats to the Prime Minister’s life. The announcement added that the Jerusalem District Court does not have adequate bomb shelters. The Prime Minister is due to begin testifying on December 10. The court and Shin Bet agreed that the Tel Aviv venue was the best location.
The Prime Minister faces charges of fraud, accepting bribes, and breach of trust stemming from three separate police investigations. Netanyahu denies all charges of wrongdoing and has insisted in the past that the trial would not interfere with his public responsibilities.
In the case of the “Gifts Affair,” Netanyahu and his wife Sara are accused of accepting $200,000 in gifts from Hollywood Arnon Milchan in exchange for helping the billionaire obtain a visa to work in the US, and changing certain tax provisions to benefit Milchan.
In the second investigation, known as the “Yediot Affair,” Netanyahu allegedly helped Yediot Aharonot publisher Arnon Mozes by advancing regulations on the distribution of newspapers to Mozes’s advantage. In exchange, Mozes is accused of providing favourable coverage to Netanyahu — who was the Communications Minister at the time —.
The third investigation is the “Bezeq Affair,” in which Netanyahu — also as Communications Minister — gave regulatory benefits to the Bezeq telecom giant. In return, Bezeq’s majority shareholder, Shaul Elovitch, gave Netanyahu favourable coverage on the Walla News site, which he owns.
No serving Israeli Prime Minister has ever been indicted on criminal charges. Ehud Olmert stepped down in 2008 ahead of his indictment for corruption. Olmert was eventually convicted and served two-thirds of a 27-month prison sentence.
