Netanyahu back in court after a two-month break

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
4 Dec 2023 10:50
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Two months later, PM Netanyahu's corruption trial resumes on charges of fraud, bribery, and breach of trust resume.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Al-Quds, Sunday, June 18, 2023 (AP)

The proceedings in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's legal cases are set to recommence on Monday at the "Jerusalem District Court" following a hiatus of approximately two months since the Tishrei holiday break.

The break was extended due to the Israeli war in Gaza, during which the courts operated in an emergency format, focusing on emergency hearings only. LAHB Unit 433 investigators Eran Bohnik and Datan Malihi are slated to testify, along with Lior Spitz, an investigator from the Securities Authority.

Minister Dudi Amsalem expressed criticism over the trial's resumption, stating on X (formerly Twitter): "The prime minister is preoccupied with illusory trifles, a shame."

Netanyahu's spokesperson, Ofer Golan, confirmed at the end of last week that the discussion is expected to proceed.

מלחמה❓
חטופים❓
מפונים❓
כלכלה❓
לא ולא...🙄
מה שהכי חשוב עכשיו זה לחדש את משפט נתניהו, ולהעסיק את ראש ממשלת ישראל בעדויות המופרכות ובזוטות ההזויות.
כן כן, קראתם נכון-
זה ממש לא סובל דיחוי.
חרפה שאין כדוגמתה❗ pic.twitter.com/TGtzmQAnsv
— דודי אמסלם 🇮🇱 (@dudiamsalem) December 3, 2023

While in emergency mode, there were no submissions of requests, and no extraordinary events were linked to the Prime Minister's cases. Despite this, Netanyahu held meetings with news company directors, including Avi Weiss from Israeli Channel 12 and Or Tselkovnik from Channel 13, along with Avi Meshulam, the editor of Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

It is noteworthy that despite Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Noni Mozes facing accusations of offering a bribe to Netanyahu in Case 2000, the Prime Minister's legal team did not disclose this meeting to the court.

Netanyahu's legal cases

Netanyahu is being tried for charges including bribery, breach of trust throughout his term, and fraud.

Case 1000 (The Gift Affair):
Netanyahu is accused of receiving favors from businessmen Arnon Milchan and James Packer while serving as prime minister. The charges allege that Netanyahu acted in Milchan's favor in various matters, damaging the public service's image and public trust. He faces accusations of fraud and breach of trust in this case.

Case 2000 (Netanyahu-Moses Affair):
This case revolves around conversations between Netanyahu and Yediot Ahronoth publisher Arnon "Noni" Mozes. Conversations involved boosting Netanyahu's coverage in Yediot Group in exchange for imposing restrictions on its competitor, "Israel Hayom." Mozes is accused of offering a bribe, while Netanyahu faces charges of fraud and breach of trust.

Case 4000 (Bezek-Walla Case!):
Considered the most serious case, it involves regulatory benefits worth hundreds of millions of shekels that Netanyahu allegedly granted to businessman Shaul Elovitch. In return, Elovitch, along with his wife Iris, are accused of paying bribes to bias coverage on the Walla! website, which is controlled by them.

Netanyahu raised above the law

Previously, Netanyahu's son took to X in defense of his father and accused senior prosecutors and police in "Israel" of "treason," which he hinted was a crime punishable by the death penalty.

Yair's accusations came in light of his father's trial, as he claimed that the senior prosecutors and the police framed his father in the ongoing corruption case against him.

In March this year, the Knesset passed into law a bill that would shield Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from a court decision to impeach him, with 61 Knesset members voting in favor and 47 against, Israeli media reported back in March.