Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s defense attorneys have requested a 10-week delay in his testimony for his ongoing corruption trial, pushing his appearance on the witness stand to February 2025. The request, filed late Monday, comes in response to a series of extraordinary events that the defense argues have hindered Netanyahu’s preparation for the trial.
The Jerusalem District Court had initially scheduled Netanyahu to begin his testimony on December 2, 2024. However, the defense team now cites pressing national security issues, including the ongoing war with Hamas, negotiations for hostages’ release, and the threat posed by Hezbollah and Iran, as factors that have disrupted Netanyahu’s ability to prepare adequately for the trial.
Security and Political Pressures
In a motion to the court, Netanyahu’s attorneys highlighted that key preparation sessions had been canceled due to urgent political and security demands. The defense also referenced “classified information” related to national security that could influence how the Prime Minister’s testimony is heard. According to the request, these developments have made it impossible for Netanyahu to prepare for his testimony in the planned timeframe. Additionally, his defense argued that Netanyahu’s physical presence in the courtroom during this period could pose a significant security risk, both to the Prime Minister and those present.
"The Prime Minister’s ability to prepare for his testimony has been severely impacted by these extraordinary national security challenges," Netanyahu’s legal team said in their filing. They also indicated that the trial's logistics, especially considering the ongoing conflict, may require a reconsideration of the previously set timeline.
Previous Court Decisions and Public Interest
This latest request follows a similar plea made in June, when Netanyahu’s defense sought to delay the trial's defense phase until March 2025, citing constraints imposed by the war. The court rejected that request, emphasizing the public interest in swiftly advancing the legal proceedings. The judges ruled that the Prime Minister should begin testifying by December 2024, with sufficient time allowed for the defense to prepare.
The judges also previously rejected Netanyahu’s argument that his request for a “defense of justice” claim, which could potentially see the indictment dropped on grounds of investigative errors, should be resolved before the defense phase began. The trial is expected to address claims of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in multiple corruption cases involving Netanyahu.
Legal and Political Tensions
As Netanyahu’s trial enters its fifth year, the case continues to stir significant political and legal debate. Netanyahu faces charges in three high-profile cases: Case 4000 (the Bezeq-Walla affair), where he is accused of bribery and fraud; Case 1000 (the "pleasure favors" case); and Case 2000 (the Yediot Aharonot case), in which he faces allegations of fraud and breach of trust.
In August, the Israeli Attorney General, Gali Bahar-Miara, told the High Court that there was a clear public interest in expediting the trial's resolution. The legal advisor’s statement came in response to a petition calling for a reassessment of Netanyahu’s conflict-of-interest arrangements, given his role in managing the country’s response to the war.
Court to Hear Request This Week
The court is scheduled to hear Netanyahu’s defense request this Wednesday, with the state expected to submit its response by Tuesday afternoon. The outcome of this latest motion could have significant implications for the trial’s timeline, with Netanyahu's legal team seeking to push the case into next year amid the ongoing security crisis.
This continued delay underscores the complex intersection of national security, political pressure, and legal accountability facing the Israeli Prime Minister as he navigates his legal challenges while managing the country’s ongoing war efforts.
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