Prime Minister Netanyahu took the witness stand for about four hours and will resume testifying on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stand for the first time in his long-running corruption trial, denying the “absurd” charges against him.
Appearing in a crowded courtroom in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, he described the charges against him as a “sea of absurdity.”
Israel’s longest-serving prime minister has been charged with bribery, fraud and breach of public trust in three separate cases. He has consistently denied wrongdoing.
He was on the stand for about four hours and is scheduled to resume testifying Wednesday. The military chief gave him two written messages, only then requesting a break and emphasizing his dual duties as prime minister.
He attacked Israeli media for what he called a left-wing stance, accusing journalists of stalking him for years because his policies were inconsistent with promoting a Palestinian state.
“I have been waiting for eight years for this moment to tell the truth,” Prime Minister Netanyahu told the three-judge court. “But I’m also prime minister…I’m leading the country through a seven-front war. And I think the two can run in parallel.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s appearance at the trial comes as tensions in the region rise and Israel continues its assault on the besieged Gaza Strip.
Critics have accused the prime minister of prolonging Israel’s 14-month offensive on the besieged Gaza Strip to maintain his hold on power. They also claim he is blocking a cease-fire deal that could have released dozens of Israeli prisoners held in Gaza.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the court, including family members of prisoners held in Gaza.
According to the Palestinian Health Authority, Israel’s attack on Gaza has killed more than 44,500 people, most of them women and children.
3 cases
The Israeli prime minister is on trial in three separate cases filed in 2019: Case 1000, Case 2000, and Case 4000.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is accused of accepting lavish gifts from a billionaire Hollywood producer in exchange for support for his personal business interests.
He is also accused of offering regulatory favors to media moguls in exchange for favorable coverage.
His testimony follows years of scandal that have swirled around him and his family, who have earned a reputation for enjoying a lavish lifestyle at Israeli taxpayers’ expense.
Since the trial began in 2020, the court has heard prosecution witnesses in three cases, including some of Netanyahu’s former aides who have become state witnesses.
Prosecutors have sought to portray the prime minister as a leader obsessed with an image of breaking the law to raise public awareness.
Testimony is scheduled to take place six hours a day, three days a week for several weeks and will take up a significant portion of Netanyahu’s time, leading critics to argue that he is embroiled in a war on multiple fronts. It raises questions about whether they can manage the country.
A verdict is not expected until 2026 at the earliest, giving Prime Minister Netanyahu the option of appealing to the Supreme Court.
