Benjamin Netanyahu to Take the Stand in Corruption Case

Jerusalem, Dec 10 (NationPress) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to take the stand on Tuesday, marking his first appearance in court for allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.

His testimony will commence in a secure underground chamber at the Tel Aviv District Court, having been relocated from Jerusalem due to concerns over security. Following this, he is expected to testify three times a week for at least the next two weeks, according to local media reports.

This trial is significant as it represents the first instance of a sitting Israeli prime minister facing criminal charges, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.

The court had granted a partial acceptance of Netanyahu's legal team's request on November 24 for a 15-day delay in the start of his testimony but denied a subsequent request for postponement from 12 ministers in his cabinet.

Adding complexity to Netanyahu's domestic trial are the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants issued in November against him and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed between at least October 8, 2023, and May 20, 2024.

Beginning in early 2020, the trial encompasses three distinct cases where Netanyahu is accused of accepting bribes, fraud, and breach of trust. As Israel's longest-serving prime minister, he has consistently denied any wrongdoing, branding the trial a politically driven 'witch hunt'.

After a hiatus of over two months due to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the trial resumed in early December 2023.

If found guilty, Netanyahu may face harsh consequences, including imprisonment, potentially making him the first serving Israeli prime minister to receive a criminal sentence.