The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to testify in self-defense against multiple corruption charges before the Tel Aviv District Court in Israel.
The 75-year-old Israeli politician is due to appear in court to testify on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, for the first time in his trial.
He faces separate cases of corruption, including allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, all filed in 2019, and if found guilty, he’s likely to be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison or be fined.
However, Netanyahu and his legal team have since denied the allegations of wrongdoing, purporting that their client is a victim of a politically orchestrated “witch hunt” by his rivals, supported by the media, aimed at undermining his government.
Netanyahu’s legal team, which attempted to request a 10-week delay in the trial that started in May 2020, claims the premier was unable to prepare due to Israel’s involvement in the Middle East wars.
However, the request was rejected by Israel’s top court, saying he has had five months to prepare.
“We were not convinced that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred that would justify a change to the date we set in our original decision,” Court said.
Separate cases Benjamin Netanyahu faces
According to the indictment summary, Case 1000, also known as the “Gifts Affair,” charges the Israeli prime minister with fraud and breach of trust. It involves allegations that Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, received lavish gifts from two wealthy businessmen valued at approximately $192,000 in exchange for political favors. The businessmen are Arnon Milchan, an Israeli Hollywood film producer, and Australian billionaire James Packer. Milchan later testified that he provided gifts to Netanyahu in June 2020 that included champagne and cigars.
Case 2000 charges him with fraud and breach of trust. It says Netanyahu made a deal with businessman Aron Mozes, a controlling shareholder of the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, for favorable coverage in exchange for legislation to slow the growth of the rival Israel Hayom newspaper.
Case 4000 charges Netanyahu with granting regulatory favors to Israeli telecommunications company Bezeq in return for positive coverage of him and his wife on a news website, Walla.
In response Netanyahu, in his capacity as communications minister at the time, allegedly provided regulatory benefits to Shaul Elovitch, the owner of Bezeq, who also controlled the news website Walla.
The benefits reportedly included mergers and financial gains. In exchange, Elovitch provided favorable coverage of Netanyahu and his wife in order to sweeten his political image.
