Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified for the 10th day in his corruption trial at the Tel Aviv District Court, as his defense attorney, Amit Hadad, estimated he would need 24 more hearings to complete questioning.
The trial centers on Case 4000, where Netanyahu is accused of a quid pro quo arrangement with Walla news owner Shaul Elovitch, allegedly manipulating media coverage in exchange for regulatory benefits. Hadad has challenged the validity of the 315 instances of interference cited by prosecutors, covering just over 60 so far. The defense has offered to shorten proceedings if irrelevant examples are removed from the indictment, but the State Attorney’s Office has refused.
Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman urged Hadad to streamline questioning, suggesting multiple examples be addressed together. When Netanyahu attempted to interject, she cut him off, instructing him to remain seated. “I am astonished,” Netanyahu responded before eventually arguing that he had the right to counter each accusation.
“This bribery I am accused of is 315 bricks,” he stated. “I insist on my right to answer every single clause and smash every single brick.”
The court battle continues, with Netanyahu also facing fraud and breach of trust charges in Cases 1000 and 2000.
