Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to testify in corruption trial

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to begin testifying in his corruption trial on Tuesday, after accusing the country’s legal authorities of pursuing a “ruthless witch-hunt” against him.

Netanyahu is facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate criminal cases that focus on his relationships with wealthy business people.

He is the only sitting Israeli prime minister to remain in office after being indicted, and on Tuesday is set to become the first to take the stand in his own defence.

The long-serving premier, as he has done since the start of police investigations in 2016 into alleged corruption by him, denied all the charges in a Monday night press conference as he claimed the authorities were seeking to oust him from power.

“Eight years I’ve been waiting for this day,” Netanyahu said. “Eight years I’m waiting to present the truth, to finally burst the excessive and delusional charges against me.

“Eight years I’ve been waiting to reveal ‘the method’ of a ruthless witch-hunt.”

Netanyahu accused police and prosecutors of deploying illegal and underhand “methods” to extract false testimony from dozens of former close aides and associates, including sleep deprivation and cyber weapons, as well as using “intimidation and threats” against witnesses.

The details of the three criminal cases against Netanyahu are complex.

In the first one, Netanyahu is accused of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gifts, including cigars, jewellery and champagne, from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer, in exchange for political favours.

In the second, the prime minister is charged with asking media baron Arnon “Nuni” Mozes to deliver positive coverage in his Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper in exchange for legislation to hamper the circulation of a rival publication.

In the third, he is accused of granting regulatory favours to businessman Shaul Elovitch in exchange for favourable coverage on his Walla news website.

The premier’s trial in Jerusalem district court began in May 2020, although proceedings have been delayed by the Covid pandemic, various legal manoeuvres by Netanyahu’s legal team, and the outbreak of war in Gaza and Lebanon.

In recent weeks the three-judge panel rejected multiple requests for further delays by Netanyahu’s lawyers, despite the country being mired in conflicts on several fronts, including Syria.

On Sunday, 12 members of Netanyahu’s security cabinet sent a letter to the court demanding that his testimony be postponed due to the “exceptional security situation”.

The judges rejected the request, prompting several ministers to say that they were “harming Israel’s security”.

But in a nod to the ongoing wars, the court did move the proceedings from Jerusalem to a reinforced hall in Tel Aviv.

Demonstrations outside the venue, both for and against Netanyahu, are expected on Tuesday and in subsequent days.

The judges have stipulated the prime minister must testify three days a week, for six hours at a time. The testimony could last several weeks.

Netanyahu in his press conference was adamant that he could still lead Israel, and prosecute the wars, despite the time required in court.

But he criticised the judges, saying: “It is very irregular to testify three times a week. You can find a balance between the needs of the state, the needs of the trial, and the needs of managing a war.”