Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to take the witness stand for the first time on Tuesday in his ongoing trial over alleged fraud and corruption in Israel.
The case comes as Netanyahu’s government manages multiple conflicts with Iran and the terrorist groups it supports, as well as the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad this weekend.
The corruption case began in 2020, with prosecutors accusing Netanyahu of trading favors with the law for favorable media coverage for under-the-table dealings with media moguls.
So far, about 140 witnesses have testified in this case, although that is short of the 300 witnesses that were initially expected. Those witnesses include high-ranking people, such as the former prime minister, security chiefs and the media.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in Jerusalem. (OHAD ZWIGENBERG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
The police have already interviewed Netanyahu and his wife several times regarding these cases, but Tuesday will be the first time they take evidence.
His testimony will be an arduous process expected to last for weeks, as he testifies three days a week for hours at a time. The defense has repeatedly sought to retract the prime minister’s testimony, but those efforts have been unsuccessful.
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Critics have accused Netanyahu of dragging down and even escalating Israel’s conflict with Hamas in an effort to delay the trial. Prosecutors postponed their case in July, and a decision is not expected until 2026, when either side could appeal to the state’s highest court.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with IDF commanders in the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza to discuss the work of Hamas. (Photo courtesy of TPS)
Netanyahu is getting more support in the International Criminal Court case against him, however, with American politicians rallying to his defense amid war crimes charges. The Pentagon also said it “rejects” the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
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“We’re still concerned about the prosecutor’s rush to seek warrants, and you know, some of the processes that are in place,” Pentagon Deputy Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters in November. “And again, we have made it clear that the ICC does not have the power to handle this matter.”
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., defended Netanyahu from war crimes charges from the International Criminal Court. (Left: Andrew Harnik/Getty Image; Right: JACQUELYN MARTIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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Several senior members of the Senate said they would support sanctions against the ICC after it issued an arrest warrant.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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