Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Tel Aviv District Court during his testimony in the trial against him, 10 December 2024: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his testimony in his corruption trial by calling the charges against him “absurd” and stressing that he had “waited eight years to tell his truth”. In his speech, he sharply criticised the trial, which is taking place during the war, and said that his time could have been used more effectively. This was reported by The Jerusalem Post.
“I’m running a country during a war. The court could have balanced my schedule better than forcing me to testify three times a week,” Netanyahu said, adding that it was difficult for him to testify and deal with the country’s security issues at the same time, especially in light of the “tectonic changes” in the Middle East.
“If you are not a leftist, you are in the dock”
The prime minister stressed that his problems began because he did not take the “left path”. According to him, if he had agreed to create a Palestinian state and divide Jerusalem, he would have received media support, but he chose a different path. “I spoke out against the threat from Iran and did not agree to two states – for this I am hated,” he said.
Netanyahu also criticised the Israeli media, calling it biased and not representing the interests of “ordinary Israelis”. He added that the media is helping international accusations of war crimes against Israel. “When the world hears only the left-wing media, it thinks that they represent the majority of Israelis,” the prime minister said.
“Cigars, champagne and gifts”
Netanyahu ridiculed the bribery charges, which include receiving expensive cigars and champagne. “I hardly ever smoke cigars, I’m constantly interrupted. And by the way, I hate champagne,” the Prime Minister said. He insists that none of the gifts he received were corrupt, but were part of his friendly relations with billionaires Arnon Milchin and James Packer.
The main witness in this case is Milchin’s assistant, who stated that Netanyahu and his wife Sarah demanded gifts even when donors did not want to do so.
Cases 1000, 2000, 4000: from gifts to media monopoly
- Netanyahu called the1000 case regarding the gifts politically motivated. He is accused of receiving champagne and cigars worth more than $150,000.
- The prime minister described the4000 case, related to alleged media manipulation on the Walla portal, as a common political practice. According to him, all politicians seek to ensure balanced coverage of their activities.
- The 2000 case, the least convincing for the prosecution, involved attempts to reach an agreement with the owner of the Yediot Aharonot newspaper to obtain more favourable coverage.
Netanyahu’s lawyer, Amit Hadad, compared the police’s approach to the case to the methods of Stalinist repression, claiming that the charges were fabricated. He also stated that the 4000 case, the key case in this trial, should have been closed long ago.
Political overtones and delays in the process
Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to personally testify in a corruption trial. He accuses the prosecution of political motives and reminds us that the indictment was filed on the same day that he met with then US President Donald Trump.
The case, which has been going on for more than seven years, threatens to divide society and drag out the trials until 2026 and beyond. However, Netanyahu has stated that he will fight to the end to clear his name.