Netanyahu takes the stand on his corruption case, calls the charges 'nonsense' – nationally
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defiantly vowed on Tuesday to dismiss corruption allegations against him as he began testifying in his long-running trial, becoming the first sitting Israeli leader to stand trial.
The testimony is another low point for the long-serving Israeli leader, who is also facing an international arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Israel's war in Gaza.
In his opening testimony to a packed court in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu revealed that he was a dedicated leader who defended Israel's interests, dismissing the charges against him as “dropping into the sea” compared to the challenges he faced defending his country. .
But the charges have torn apart Israel and hardened Netanyahu's legacy, which has also been tainted by the Gaza conflict and the growing isolationism Israel faces as a result.
Speaking freely and appearing relaxed, Netanyahu said he could balance his trial appearance with his job as prime minister at a time when Israel is still fighting the conflict in Gaza and dealing with the fall of Bashar Assad in neighboring Syria.
“I have waited eight years until now, to tell the truth,” Netanyahu said, standing on stage, with his son Avner and several members of his Likud party sitting on the court's benches. He said his testimony would “pierce the baseless suspicions.”
Netanyahu will answer when he appears in court on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases.
He is accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars in cigarettes and champagne from a billionaire Hollywood producer in exchange for personal and business interests. He is also accused of advocating laws that benefit media officials in order to get good news about him and his family.
Netanyahu, 75, denies the charges, saying the charges are a witch hunt fueled by a hostile media and a biased legal system seeking to overturn his longstanding rule. His testimony covers years of scandal surrounding him and his family, who have earned a reputation for living a lavish lifestyle at taxpayers' expense.
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Netanyahu's testimony is taking place in an underground court, which is heavily guarded for security reasons. Outside the court, a large number of protesters, both supporters and opponents of Netanyahu, gathered. A banner unfurled reads “Minister of Crime” as each side chants slogans. Some families of hostages held in Gaza also demonstrated.
At the beginning of his testimony, the judge told Netanyahu that he had the same rights as other witnesses and could sit or stand as he pleased.
Netanyahu told his version of events and shared personal details about his life that he hopes will shape how the judges see him. He said that when he started his public service career, he would lose sleep because of the media coverage, but he found that it was nothing – compared to the prosecutors' efforts to paint him as a photo fanatic.
He said he used to smoke weed but he couldn't quit because of his job, he also hated champagne.
Before testimony began, Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Hadad, accused the Israeli justice system of fabricating crimes in an effort to arrest Netanyahu.
“There was a lot of effort … to find a few pieces of the puzzle that didn't fit together,” Haddad said, as Netanyahu sat on the bench behind him. “In court, during the day, we see everything falling apart.”
The testimony, which will be held six hours a day, three days a week for several weeks, will take up a large portion of Netanyahu's working hours, prompting critics to question whether he can handle the conflict-ridden country on a one-sided, contained basis. a second decline, as well as looking at other potential regional threats, including from Iran.
His lawyer asked to be allowed access to the notes while testifying to help ensure he can continue to run the country, and at other times during the trial, Netanyahu did so.
According to Israeli law, impeached prime ministers are not required to step down. But the charges against Netanyahu have caused deep divisions in Israel, with protesters calling for his resignation and former political allies refusing to work in government with the Israeli leader, fueling a political conflict that has led to five elections in less than four years starting in 2019.
Netanyahu's supporters see the cases as the result of bias and the strengthening of the justice system.
Despite the pressure, Netanyahu has dismissed calls for him to step down and has used his position as prime minister to criticize law enforcement, the media and the courts.
An Israeli court has rejected a request by Netanyahu's lawyers to reduce the number of hours expected to testify, as well as other requests to postpone their start, which they say are necessary because of the prime minister's busy schedule and the country's major challenges. A decision is not expected until 2026 at the earliest and Netanyahu will have the option of appealing to the Supreme Court.
Since the trial began in 2020, the court has heard prosecution witnesses in these three cases, including Netanyahu's aides who were state witnesses. The prosecutor tried to portray the prime minister as a fanatical and law-breaking leader in order to improve his public image.
Netanyahu's testimony could tarnish his reputation at a difficult time. His popular support plummeted after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the public blames his leadership for failing to prevent the attacks, and if elections are held today he will struggle to form a government. Israel continues to fight Hamas in Gaza endlessly, despite intense international pressure to end the conflict, and pressure from the families of hostages in Gaza and their supporters to bring their loved ones home.
The Israeli leader and former defense minister are also facing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes related to the Gaza conflict. The warrant puts Netanyahu in the same company as Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir.
