Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Netanyahu Cuts Court Testimony Short, Citing “Security Schedule"


(MENAFN) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu curtailed his scheduled corruption trial testimony on Monday, requesting an abbreviated hearing on the grounds of a pressing security commitment, according to Israeli media reports.

"The hearing will end at 12:45 p.m. (0945GMT)," Israeli media said, adding that Netanyahu is anticipated to convene "a security discussion at noon."

Monday's appearance marked Netanyahu's 85th time before the court since proceedings began in his long-running corruption case — a trial that has shadowed his tenure as Israel's longest-serving prime minister.

The charges against him are threefold: allegedly accepting lavish gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors; purportedly seeking preferential media coverage from a prominent newspaper publisher; and reportedly granting regulatory benefits to a telecommunications executive in return for favorable coverage on a news website.

The domestic legal battle is not Netanyahu's only looming accountability challenge. Since 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has sought his arrest on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to military operations in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army's offensive, launched in October 2023, has killed more than 72,000 people and injured over 172,000 others, according to reported figures.

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