Netanyahu fights corruption charges in landmark testimony amid political turmoil

File Source: Reuters

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the witness stand for the 14th time on Tuesday, continuing his defense in a high-profile corruption trial that has dragged on for nearly five years.

He is the first sitting Israeli leader to testify as a criminal defendant, marking a dramatic chapter in his decades-long political career. The trial, which began in May 2020, was delayed due to the war between Israel and Hamas but resumed in December last year.

Netanyahu faces three separate corruption cases filed in 2019, involving charges of fraud, bribery, and breach of trust. Prosecutors allege that he accepted lavish gifts—champagne and cigars worth tens of thousands of dollars—from billionaire Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan in exchange for political favors. In another case, he is accused of granting regulatory benefits worth approximately €475,000 to Israeli telecom giant Bezeq in return for positive media coverage on its news website, Walla. A third case alleges he negotiated a deal with the publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth, a major Israeli newspaper, to secure more favorable reporting.

Netanyahu has dismissed all accusations, calling them a politically motivated witch hunt driven by a hostile media and a biased judiciary determined to remove him from power. His trial continues to cast a shadow over Israeli politics, as he also faces an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza.

If convicted, Netanyahu could face up to 10 years in prison and heavy fines for bribery, along with an additional three-year sentence for fraud and breach of trust. His testimony and cross-examination are expected to last at least eight more months, delaying any final verdict.

The trial’s delays have been compounded by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which triggered a full-scale war in Gaza. Before the conflict, Netanyahu’s legal battles had already shaken Israeli politics. His return to power in 2022 saw his far-right government push for judicial reforms that critics feared would weaken the country’s democracy, sparking mass protests. Netanyahu has denied any connection between his trial and the controversial judicial overhaul.

As the case drags on, Netanyahu continues to fight legal and political battles on multiple fronts, with the outcome of his corruption trial likely to have lasting consequences for his leadership and Israel’s political future.