Netanyahu Faces Courtroom Tensions in Corruption Trial’s Tenth Session
Israeli Prime Minister Clashes with Judge as Defense Protests Lengthy Hearings Amid Ongoing Gaza War.
Watan-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared today, Monday, before the Tel Aviv District Court for the tenth session of his trial, in which he is giving testimony regarding the corruption charges against him. The session began with disputes.
According to the Walla news site, Netanyahu’s trial started with shouting, while defense lawyers protested the lengthy sessions. The prime minister is requesting shorter sessions, citing security necessities due to the ongoing war in Gaza, which the occupation authorities have not yet declared over.
The website did not clarify the reasons behind the altercation at the start of the tenth session of Netanyahu’s trial.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the judge ordered Netanyahu to sit still and did not allow him to make statements during his trial. Netanyahu responded by saying he was “very surprised” by her behavior.
Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases, known as Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000.
The charges include receiving valuable gifts in exchange for regulatory benefits and diplomatic support for prominent businessmen, as well as manipulating media coverage in his favor.
These cases have led to years of political turmoil in Israel, making it difficult to form a stable majority in the Knesset and resulting in five elections in less than four years. They have also caused some of Netanyahu’s allies to abandon him, further deepening political divisions in Israel.
