Netanyahu testimony canceled
- A Jerusalem court canceled Prime Minister Netanyahu's scheduled testimony in his corruption trial over security concerns. - The cancellation this week was attributed directly to threats and heightened security risks cited by the court. - The delay adds political and legal uncertainty as Israel balances security operations with domestic judicial processes (latintimes.com).
A Jerusalem District Court panel canceled Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled testimony this week in his corruption trial after accepting a defense request tied to security and diplomatic concerns. (timesofisrael.com) The court scrapped Netanyahu’s appearance for Monday and canceled a Tuesday hearing, with another defense witness set to testify instead. Prosecutors opposed the delay, arguing Netanyahu should fit his schedule to the court’s calendar unless the security need was unavoidable. (timesofisrael.com) The postponement followed an earlier April 10 request from Netanyahu’s lawyer to push back testimony as the trial prepared to resume after Israel lifted a wartime state of emergency imposed during its conflict with Iran. Reuters reported then that the filing cited the regional security situation. (usnews.com) Netanyahu’s case is now in cross-examination, the phase when prosecutors question him directly about the allegations after his own lawyers finished leading his testimony. He first took the stand in December 2024, and prosecutors began cross-examining him in June 2025 after 36 defense-led sessions. (jpost.com) The trial itself began in 2020 after Netanyahu was indicted in November 2019 in three cases known as 1000, 2000 and 4000. He faces bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges, and he has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty. (aljazeera.com) Case 1000 centers on allegations that Netanyahu and his wife received expensive gifts from wealthy businessmen. Case 2000 concerns alleged talks with a newspaper publisher about favorable coverage, and Case 4000 alleges regulatory favors for Bezeq in exchange for positive coverage on the Walla news site. (aljazeera.com) Case 4000 has remained the core of the current testimony, according to recent Israeli press coverage, including disputes over meetings and regulatory decisions tied to former Bezeq owner Shaul Elovitch. Netanyahu has denied any quid pro quo in that case as well. (jpost.com) The latest cancellation leaves the court waiting for an update from Netanyahu’s lawyer on whether he can return to the witness stand next week. For now, the legal process is moving around the prime minister’s security schedule rather than through his testimony. (jns.org)
