Netanyahu takes stand for 14th time in corruption trial

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared before the Tel Aviv District Court on Monday for the fourteenth time to defend himself against corruption charges, Anadolu has reported. Netanyahu is currently appearing three days a week before the court to respond to the allegations against him.

He faces three separate cases of corruption filed in 2019. Cases 1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 include allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. The Israeli leader denies any wrongdoing, and calls the accusations “fake”. The trial began on 24 May, 2020.

Netanyahu 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.

The Israeli premier also faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. The ICJ issued arrest warrants for him and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 over Israeli atrocities in Gaza, where nearly 50,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since 7 October, 2023.

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