Netanyahu in the dock: corruption trial begins in Tel Aviv

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, gave testimony for the first time this Tuesday (10) in the process in which he is responsible for corruption. Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to be charged with a crime.

Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. The trial began in 2020 and involves three criminal cases, known as Cases 1000, 2000 and 4000.

In addition to this process, two weeks ago, Netanyahu had an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes in Gaza. The leader of the Israeli far right has used the conflict in the Middle East to divert focus and delay his trial and maintain the orthodox and supremacist political base that supports him in power.

As 21st century ultra-rightist custom dictates, Netanyahu seeks to defend himself from the lawsuits by attacking the Judiciary.

“The real threat to democracy in Israel is not posed by those who have been elected by the public, but by some among the law enforcement authorities who refuse to accept the voters’ choice and are trying to stage a coup with rabid political investigations that are unacceptable in any democracy,” he said in a statement.

The prime minister entered the Tel Aviv District Court smiling at around 10 am local time (5 am in Brasília). The trial was moved from Jerusalem for security reasons, not detailed, and held in an underground courtroom.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the court, some supporters and others demanding that Netanyahu do more to negotiate the release of about a hundred hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu’s depositions are scheduled to take place three times a week, six hours a day, over several weeks. This means that, while Israel continues its offensives in the Palestinian enclave, bombs military targets in Syria and monitors the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, its leader will be in the dock in Tel Aviv.

The premier and his team have repeatedly tried to postpone the hearings, while opponents have appealed to the Supreme Court to declare him “unfit” to govern during the trial. Both efforts failed, symbolizing the deep division surrounding the cases.

Understand the cases:

Case 4000
Prosecutors allege that Netanyahu granted regulatory favors worth about 1.8 billion shekels, about $500 million, to Bezeq Telecom Israel.

In exchange, the indictment states that he sought positive coverage of himself and his wife Sara on a news website controlled by the company’s former president, Shaul Elovitch. In this case, Netanyahu was accused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Case 1000

Netanyahu was charged with fraud and breach of trust over allegations that he and his wife improperly received nearly 700,000 shekels, about $210,000, in gifts from Arnon Milchan, a Hollywood producer and Israeli citizen, and Australian billionaire businessman James Packer.

Prosecutors said the gifts included champagne and cigars and that Netanyahu helped Milchan with his business interests. Packer and Milchan do not face charges.

Case 2000

Netanyahu negotiated a deal with Arnon Mozes, owner of the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, for better coverage in exchange for legislation to slow the growth of a rival paper. Netanyahu was accused of fraud and breach of trust.