Netanyahu must stand trial again
The trial against Prime Minister Netanyahu was interrupted due to Israel's war against Hamas, but is now continuing: the Israeli head of government is on trial on suspicion of corruption. He must also expect to be questioned as a witness himself.
Two months after the start of the war against the Islamist Hamas, the corruption proceedings against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been resumed in Israel. According to Israeli media, Netanyahu could be called to the witness stand in a few months' time. Following the major Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the proceedings were initially put on hold.
The 74-year-old Netanyahu is charged with three counts of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. The hearings initially dealt with the accusation that Netanyahu had granted favors to the telecommunications company Besek in return for positive reporting on the "Walla" website, which belongs to the group.
In another case, the public prosecutor's office accuses Netanyahu of having received gifts worth 700,000 shekels (around 176,000 euros) between 2007 and 2016, including cigar boxes, champagne bottles and jewelry, in return for financial or personal benefits. The gifts are said to have come from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, among others, who is said to have received millions in tax benefits in return.
Fewer witnesses due to convocation?
Netanyahu is the first sitting prime minister in the history of Israel to be tried for corruption. The trial began in May 2020. Netanyahu denies all accusations and sees himself as a victim of the public prosecutor's office and the media. Politicians close to Netanyahu criticized the resumption of the trial in the middle of the war. Due to the call-up of reservists, fewer witnesses and lawyers are likely to attend the hearings.
Netanyahu was elected head of government last year at the head of a right-wing religious coalition - having previously governed for twelve consecutive years until 2021. Before the war following the Hamas attack, there were months of mass protests against him and his right-wing religious government, mainly due to a planned judicial reform. After the war began, Netanyahu formed a war cabinet with his political rival Benny Gantz.
The war between Israel and Hamas has now been going on for more than eight weeks. On 7 October, hundreds of fighters from Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the USA and the EU, invaded Israel and committed atrocities, mainly against civilians. According to Israeli reports, around 1,200 people were killed in Israel and around 240 people were taken hostage. In response, Israel began a massive attack on targets in the densely populated Gaza Strip. According to the latest information from Hamas, which cannot be independently verified, more than 15,500 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since then.
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Despite the interruption due to Israel's war against Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial has resumed. Amidst the resumed proceedings, Netanyahu may be called as a witness in the near future.
Following the resumption of Netanyahu's corruption trial, politics in Israel remains tense, with the prime minister continuing to deny all accusations against him. The ongoing war against Hamas has further complicated the legal process, with fewer witnesses and lawyers likely to attend hearings due to reservist call-ups.
Source: www.ntv.de
