Netanyahu seeks delay in corruption trial citing ongoing war in Gaza, Lebanon
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, speaks during a joint meeting of Congress at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. Netanyahu's speech to Congress will test whether Democrats can sustain their newfound unity over Vice President Kamala Harris despite searing divisions over Middle East policy. Photographer: Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s legal team has requested a two-and-a-half-month postponement of his court testimony in his ongoing corruption trial.
Citing the current conflict with Gaza and hostilities with Lebanon, the lawyers appealed to the Jerusalem District Court for a delay, arguing Netanyahu cannot properly prepare due to “urgent security or diplomatic needs,” according to The Times of Israel.
Netanyahu, charged in 2019 with fraud, bribery, and breach of trust across three separate cases, was initially set to testify on December 2. If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to 10 years in prison or a significant fine for bribery.
The embattled prime minister has faced accusations of attempting to sidestep his legal issues through political maneuvers, including a contentious judicial overhaul proposal.
The plan ignited widespread protests across Israel, with critics alleging it was an effort to weaken judicial oversight.
Netanyahu’s request for a delay comes amid heightened tensions and scrutiny, as the legal proceedings progress alongside Israel’s complex security situation.
May 24, 2020, marked the start of Netanyahu’s corruption trial. The prosecution has been prolonged due to the first delay caused by COVID-19 and, more recently, Israel’s war on Gaza after Hamas’ October 7 attack.
Netanyahu is the first current Israeli prime minister to appear in court as a defendant. The indictments, according to the Prime Minister, are part of a politically fueled witch hunt by his adversaries to remove him from power.
