The Cradle – Top Israeli Court Rejects Netanyahu’s Request To Delay Criminal Trial
The prime minister has been repeatedly accused of prolonging the Gaza war to avoid prosecution on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust
The Jerusalem District Court rejected on 13 November a request made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay his testimony in his corruption trial by 10 weeks.
The court said the premier has already had five months to prepare for his testimony, which is scheduled for 2 December.
“We were not convinced that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred which would justify a change to the date we set in our [original] decision.” As a result, Netanyahu will be forced to take the stand.
Hours prior to the court ruling, a representative of the Israeli State Attorney’s Office, Yehudit Tirosh, said the “prime minister can’t dictate the schedule for his trial and testimony.”
…Netanyahu’s legal team filed the request for delay at the Jerusalem District Court earlier this week, arguing that certain security incidents occurred during the time in which the premier was supposed to prepare, making the testimony impossible.
After the start of the war in October last year, Netanyahu’s trial was put on hold before resuming in early December 2023.
The Israeli prime minister has been accused of and charged with fraud, bribery, and breach of trust in three separate cases filed in 2019. He faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Many, including Israelis opposed to the premier and his policies, have accused Netanyahu of seeking to prolong the war in Gaza in order to avoid trial and potential imprisonment.
