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Journalism of Courage
Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday begun giving evidence in a court in Tel Aviv in his long-running corruption trial, becoming the first sitting Israeli Prime Minister to take the stand as a criminal defendant.
“I have waited eight years for this moment, to say the truth as I remember it, which is important for justice,” said Netanyahu, dressed in a blue suit and white shirt, with an Israeli flag on one lapel and the yellow ribbon symbol representing Israel’s hostages in Gaza on the other.
“But I am also a Prime Minister. I am leading the country through a seven-front war. And I think the two can be done in parallel.”
Describing the charges against him as “an ocean of absurdness”, Netanyahu, who also faces an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Israel’s war in Gaza, promised his version of events would challenge the prosecution’s case, as his statements shifted between emphasising his international significance and portraying himself and his family as victims.
He swatted away the charges against him as a “drop in the sea” compared to the challenges he has faced protecting his country.
Netanyahu asserted that he could manage his responsibilities as Prime Minister while attending his trial, even as Israel continues its war in Gaza and faces challenges following Bashar Assad’s fall in Syria.
“I waited eight years for this moment, to be honest,” Netanyahu said at the podium, flanked by his son Avner and several members of his Likud party seated in the courtroom. He added that his testimony would “expose flaws in the baseless accusations.”
The 75-year-old is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes across three separate cases. Initially, he is expected to be questioned by his defence lawyer for several days.
Netanyahu is accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of cigars and champagne from a Hollywood billionaire in exchange for helping with personal and business interests. Additionally, he is alleged to have promoted advantageous regulations for media moguls in return for favourable media coverage for himself and his family.
He denies all wrongdoing, claiming the charges are part of a witch-hunt orchestrated by a hostile media and a biased legal system seeking to undermine his government.
The court has heard evidence from 120 prosecution witnesses in cases popularly known as Cases 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000. Some of these witnesses were once close aides to Netanyahu who later became state witnesses and have testified in detail, portraying him as controlling and image-conscious.
During his initial court appearance, Netanyahu appeared serious and somewhat weary, shaking hands with ministers and MPs who had come to support him as he entered the courtroom.
The trial comes amid political turmoil, with Netanyahu’s legal troubles exposing deep divides in Israel. Under Israeli law, an indicted Prime Minister is not required to step down. Nevertheless, the charges have ignited a political crisis, with protests calling for his resignation and former political allies refusing to continue in his government. This instability has led to five elections in less than four years, starting in 2019.
The right-wing populist leader has long avoided appearing in court, despite claiming in a taped video address on Monday that he welcomed the opportunity to testify. His appearance marks a significant moment as he attempts to maintain his image as a skilled and respected statesman while also facing attempts to limit the independence of Israel’s judiciary.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the court in Tel Aviv, including family members of hostages held in Gaza and groups opposing Netanyahu, while other groups of his supporters stood in his defence. One banner draped in front of the court read: “Crime Minister.”
While the war with Hamas that began on 7 October 2023 and the ongoing conflict in Gaza shifted much of the public’s attention away from Netanyahu’s trial, political divisions in Israel have only deepened as the war continues.
Ahead of the trial, Netanyahu’s allies in the Knesset tried to delay proceedings, citing voting conflicts and Israel’s ongoing security situation. His lawyer, Amit Hadad, strongly criticised the indictment against his client, comparing the investigation to processes seen in “Russia or North Korea” and accusing the police of targeting the man rather than investigating a specific crime.
(With inputs from Associated Press)
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