Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Photo: Getti images
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyer, Amit Hadad, has asked the court to hold a hearing on the security measures to be provided during the Prime Minister’s testimony in his criminal cases. The court hearing was scheduled for 10 December, but the lawyer expressed concern about possible threats to Netanyahu’s security during the trial, which is to be held three times a week, the Jerusalem Post reports.
The Jerusalem court on Wednesday ordered the court administration and the Shin Bet security service to prepare a report on the expected security measures by 2 December. Hadad also noted that the prime minister’s testimony could pose a danger to his security, given the increased attention to the case.
This request came after the court agreed to postpone Netanyahu’s testimony from 2 to 10 December, while not allowing any further delays in the trial, as his testimony had already been postponed for several months.
On Monday, the prosecutor’s office explained that following consultations between the attorney general and Shin Bet, which had initial contacts with the court administration, several options were proposed for organising a secure hearing for the prime minister. Reportedly, the possibility of holding the testimony in specially equipped courtrooms in Tel Aviv or in the Israeli Supreme Court, rather than in the Jerusalem District Court, is being considered.
Netanyahu is currently charged in three cases of fraud and breach of trust, as well as one case of bribery. In the first case, known as Case 1000, the prime minister is suspected of granting regulatory and other benefits to billionaire Arnon Milchan in exchange for expensive gifts, including cigars and champagne. In Case 2000, Netanyahu offered a deal to Yedioth Aharonot owner Arnon Moses, in which he would attack the newspaper’s main competitor, Yisrael HaYom, in exchange for positive coverage. In Case 4000, the Prime Minister is suspected of favouring Sheikh Shaul Elovitch, owner of several media outlets, including Bezek, for positive coverage from his own media outlets, including Walla. In this case, in addition to fraud and breach of trust, Netanyahu is accused of bribery.
