Netanyahu Resumes Testimony in Corruption Trial

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to the witness stand Tuesday in the Tel Aviv District Court for his ongoing corruption trial, marking his 81st appearance since proceedings began in May 2020. The session followed a nearly two-month pause triggered by the war with Iran that erupted in late February, with Netanyahu's last testimony occurring on February 24.

A scheduled resumption on Monday was postponed at the request of Netanyahu's legal team, which cited security concerns. The court approved the delay, allowing another defense witness to testify instead. Prosecutors opposed the move, arguing that Netanyahu should prioritize completing his cross-examination. Tuesday's hearing focused on Case 4000, where Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Prosecutors allege he advanced regulatory decisions worth hundreds of millions of shekels benefiting Bezeq, Israel's largest telecommunications company and owner of the Walla news website, in exchange for favorable coverage of himself and his wife while serving as communications minister from 2014 to 2017. Netanyahu denies the allegations.

The trial encompasses three cases stemming from indictments...