Israeli court cancels Netanyahu’s testimony in his corruption trial this week

ISTANBUL

The Jerusalem District Court on Sunday cancelled this week’s hearings in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial.

According to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, the court decision came upon Netanyahu's request in a closed-door hearing.

Sunday’s meeting was attended by the Israeli army’s intelligence chief, Shlomi Binder, and Mossad Director David Barnea.

“In light of the explanations provided, which included substantial additions and changes compared to the information presented for previous decisions, we partially grant the request and cancel at this stage Mr. Netanyahu's testimony days scheduled for June 30 and July 2,” the judges said.

Netanyahu had asked for postponing his trial sessions for two weeks, which was rejected by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara due to a lack of justification for the request.

The court’s decision came after US President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for Netanyahu’s trial to be cancelled, calling the trial a “witch hunt” against the premier.

Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust that could lead to imprisonment if proven.

In January, Netanyahu began interrogation sessions related to Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000, which he denies. The attorney general filed an indictment related to these cases at the end of November 2019.

Case 1000 involves Netanyahu and his family receiving expensive gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for favors.

Case 2000 concerns alleged negotiations with Arnon Mozes, the publisher of the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, to gain positive media coverage.

Case 4000, considered the most serious, involves providing facilitation to Shaul Elovitch, the former owner of the news site Walla and a telecommunications company, Bezeq, in return for favorable media coverage.

Netanyahu, whose trial began on May 24, 2020, is the first sitting Israeli leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant in the country’s history.

He also faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 over atrocities in Gaza, where at least 56,500 people, mostly women and children, have been killed since Oct. 7, 2023.