By Miracle Ogunde
Despite several efforts to delay his appearance in court over allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust in three separate cases, Isreali Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, becomes the country’s sitting prime minister to face a criminal trial when his case resumes Tuesday.
At Tuesday’s hearing, Netanyahu, is expected to take the witness stand for the first time, responding to the allegations and testimonies made against him, including from former close aides.
The last time he physically appeared in the courtroom was in June 2023.
“I will speak in court. I am not running away,” Netanyahu said at a press conference 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,” the premier declared, again denouncing what he called a “relentless witch hunt”.
According to reports, the trial has been moved from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, for security reasons, where Netanyahu will testify in an underground chamber.
The trial, which has been ongoing since May 2020, is scheduled to last for several months, with an appeals process that could further prolong matters.
The prime minister, who filed multiple requests to delay the proceedings on the basis of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, has denied any wrongdoing.
In the first case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaire benefactors, in exchange for political favours.
The other two cases allege that Netanyahu attempted to negotiate more favourable coverage in two Israeli media outlets.
Since returning to power in late 2022, Netanyahu’s coalition government has clashed with the country’s judiciary and law enforcement officials and sparked mass protests by trying to advance legislation that would weaken the courts.
Netanyahu’s critics insist the legal cases, and the hearings that have taken place so far, will finally serve justice to a highly corrupt politician who will do anything to stay in power.
They also accuse the prime minister of intentionally prolonging the 14-month conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon to evade justice.
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