Netanyahu Concludes Corruption Trial Testimony as Case Heads Back to Jerusalem

by | Jun 25, 2026 | News

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded his testimony in his long-running corruption trial on Wednesday, closing out 98 court hearings spread across roughly a year and a half and marking a significant milestone in a case that has shadowed Israeli politics for years. With his time on the witness stand complete, the proceedings are now expected to return to the Jerusalem District Court.

Netanyahu first took the stand on December 10, 2024. His testimony was repeatedly shortened, postponed, or canceled, with his defense citing his security responsibilities, government duties, diplomatic travel abroad, and health issues. The hearings had been moved to the Tel Aviv District Court because the Jerusalem courthouse was deemed to lack adequate security measures for a sitting prime minister; that phase has now ended, and the case will shift back to the capital for its next stage.

The prime minister faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust across three cases. In Case 1000, he is accused of accepting luxury gifts worth hundreds of thousands of shekels from wealthy benefactors, including Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, in exchange for favors. Case 2000 centers on an alleged quid pro quo with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes for more favorable coverage. Case 4000, considered the most serious, involves accusations that Netanyahu advanced regulatory decisions benefiting a major Bezeq shareholder in return for positive coverage on the Walla news site. He denies all charges and has long maintained that the proceedings are politically motivated.

In fierce closing remarks, Netanyahu described the experience as a decade of hardship, telling the judges he was finishing after what he called ten years of hell. He accused prosecutors of building a case against a person rather than pursuing a crime, and argued the process undermined not only his own rights but the public’s right to choose its leadership. His attorney, Amit Hadad, thanked the panel for its patience throughout the testimony. Presiding Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman then declared the Tel Aviv hearings concluded.

The trial is far from over. The defense will continue presenting witnesses in the coming months before both sides deliver closing arguments, after which the judges will deliberate toward a verdict, a process expected to stretch well into the future.

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