Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stand Tuesday for the first time in his corruption trial, asserting that his hawkish security policies have made him a target.
Netanyahu, 75, is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face criminal charges. Judges recently mandated his testimony three times a week, requiring him to navigate between courtroom appearances and war efforts from the Defense Ministry, located near the courthouse. During his initial four-hour testimony, his military secretary twice handed him written updates, once necessitating a recess.
Addressing the court, Netanyahu criticized Israeli media for alleged leftist bias and accused journalists of targeting him due to his opposition to a Palestinian state. “I have been waiting for eight years for this moment to tell the truth,” he declared, adding, “I am leading the country through a seven-front war. And I think the two can be done in parallel.”
Netanyahu faces charges of accepting gifts from wealthy benefactors and allegedly seeking regulatory favors in exchange for positive media coverage. He denies the allegations and has pleaded not guilty, framing the investigations as politically motivated. “Had I wanted good coverage, all I would have had to do was signal toward a two-state solution. … Had I moved two steps to the left, I would have been hailed,” he testified.
The trial was relocated from Jerusalem to a secure underground courtroom in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu testified standing, delivering lengthy responses emphasizing his role as a defender of Israel’s security against international and domestic pressures.
The trial, delayed multiple times due to the Gaza war, reignites legal challenges that had deeply polarized Israel before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The attack and subsequent war temporarily unified the nation but exposed cracks in political cohesion as the conflict persisted.
Adding to Netanyahu’s troubles, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant last month against him and former Defense Chief Yoav Gallant, alleging war crimes in Gaza. Meanwhile, internal divisions have surfaced within Netanyahu’s cabinet, particularly over judiciary reforms that had already sparked public dissent before the war.
