Netanyahu seeks to delay corruption trial, needs time to prepare defence during war
Lawyers for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the Jerusalem District Court on Sunday to delay his testimony in his corruption till March, citing the wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on Sept. 2, 2024. Photo by Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.
“A tremendous effort was made to utilize the period of time to prepare for the beginning of the defense case and for the hearing of the Prime Minister’s testimony,” Netanyahu’s lawyers told Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman. “However, from the time of the decision until today, a series of extraordinary events occurred that made the preparation of the Prime Minister impossible in the current time frame.”
According to the attorneys, “This short postponement will allow the defense to properly prepare for the Prime Minister’s testimony and will not harm the public interest in view of the unique events that took place, especially in the last two months.”
The court will hold a hearing on the request on Wednesday. The Prime Minister is currently scheduled to give testimony on Dec. 2.
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 Netanyahu — who was Communications Minister at the time — with favourable coverage.
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 own indictment for corruption. Olmert was eventually convicted and served two-thirds of a 27-month prison sentence.
