Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial resumed on Monday, December 4, 2023, after a six-week hiatus due to the war with Gaza.
Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases, one of which involves alleged influence-peddling in exchange for favorable media coverage.
The trial, which began in May 2020, was suspended on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. The attack triggered a fierce response from Israel, which launched airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza, killing more than 16,000 Palestinians and displacing over 1.5 million more.
The war was briefly paused on November 21, 2023, with a ceasefire brokered by Egypt, Qatar and the United States. However, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues, as the enclave faces shortages of food, water, electricity and medical supplies. The international community has called for an end to the blockade of Gaza and the reconstruction of the devastated infrastructure.
The resumption of Netanyahu’s trial comes at a time when his political future is also uncertain. His coalition government, formed in June 2020 after three inconclusive elections, collapsed in November 2023, triggering the fourth election in two years. The vote, scheduled for January 23, 2024, is expected to be another close race, with no clear winner or majority.
Netanyahu, who has been in power since 2009, denies any wrongdoing and claims that the charges against him are part of a political witch-hunt orchestrated by his opponents and the media. He has vowed to fight the allegations in court and to continue to lead the country.
The trial is expected to last for several months, with dozens of witnesses and thousands of pages of evidence. The next hearing will be held on May 3, 2024, to discuss several requests by Netanyahu’s attorneys to release pieces of evidence. The cross-examination of the first witness, Ilan Yeshua, the former CEO of Walla news, will begin on May 4, 2024. Yeshua has testified that he was pressured by Netanyahu and his associates to publish positive stories about the prime minister and his family, and to censor or discredit his rivals.
If convicted, Netanyahu could face up to 10 years in prison for bribery and up to three years for fraud and breach of trust. However, he is not required to resign unless he is convicted and the appeals process is exhausted, which could take years.
