Netanyahu seeks delay in corruption trial testimony over security concerns

Israeli prime minister asks Jerusalem court to postpone appearance, citing classified regional security developments and diplomatic sensitivities

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked to postpone his testimony in his long-running corruption trial, which was scheduled to resume next week, citing ongoing security concerns in the region, according to a filing submitted by his lawyer on Friday.

The trial was due to restart on Sunday, following Israel’s decision to lift a state of emergency imposed during its conflict with Iran after the announcement of a ceasefire on Wednesday. Netanyahu’s defense team said it remains prepared to continue hearing testimony from prosecution witnesses.

In the request submitted to the Jerusalem District Court, the prime minister’s legal team argued that he would be unable to testify for at least the next two weeks due to “security and confidential diplomatic reasons” linked to recent developments in Israel and across the Middle East.

The filing also states that a sealed envelope containing classified details of the request has been delivered to the court, which will rule on the motion after reviewing the prosecution’s response.

Netanyahu, the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face criminal charges, denies allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust brought against him in 2019 after years of investigations.

His trial, which began in 2020 and could carry a prison sentence if he is convicted, has been repeatedly delayed due to official duties and has no clear end date.

The charges against Netanyahu, along with the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023, have significantly affected his public standing. Israel is scheduled to hold elections in October, with polling suggesting that Netanyahu’s coalition—the most right-wing in the country’s history—faces potential defeat.

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