Israeli prime minister’s corruption trial enters decisive phase as cross-examination begins
Netanyahu faces cross-examination by state prosecutors for 1st time in his corruption trial
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
JERUSALEM / ISTANBUL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial entered a new decisive phase, as he faced cross-examination by state prosecutors for the first time on Tuesday.
The cross-examination began eight years after investigations into corruption accusations against Netanyahu were first opened, Haaretz daily said.
Netanyahu has been responding to direct examination through his defense team since Dec. 10, 2024.
According to Haaretz, the Israeli premier will be asked brief yes-no questions, unlike previous sessions, “which will put his credibility at stake.”
“The judges listened for a long time to Netanyahu's extensive answers, but now it is the prosecution's turn to test the prime minister's story and prove his guilt under the pressure of cross-examination,” the newspaper said.
The prosecution also plans to address the halt of delivery of memos and envelopes to the prime minister during the trial session, as it might be used as an excuse for the suspension of the hearings.
The Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth called Tuesday’s cross-examination a “dramatic shift” for Netanyahu, as it is the first time that he appeared before representatives of the public prosecution for Case 1,000.
Netanyahu faces three separate cases of corruption filed in 2019 against him: Case 1,000, Case 2,000, and Case 4,000, which include accusations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. He denies any wrongdoing, calling the accusations “fake.”
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.
Under Israeli law, he is not required to resign unless convicted by the Supreme Court, a process that could take several months.
Netanyahu 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 nearly 54,500 people, mostly women and children, have been killed since Oct. 7, 2023.
Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
