Summary: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the Jerusalem District Court to delay the next phase of his corruption trial testimony for at least two weeks, citing classified security and diplomatic reasons related to recent events in Israel and the wider Middle East. The request was submitted in a court filing and accompanied by a sealed envelope said to contain the confidential rationale. The trial had been due to resume following the lifting of a state of emergency connected to Israel's war with Iran after a Wednesday ceasefire announcement.
In a filing on Friday, Netanyahu's lawyer told the court that the prime minister would be unable to testify in the proceeding for a minimum of two weeks. The defence indicated it remained ready to continue hearing testimony from a prosecution witness despite the request to postpone the prime minister's appearance.
The court filing included a direct explanation: "Due to classified security and diplomatic reasons connected ... to the dramatic events that have taken place in the State of Israel and throughout the Middle East in recent times, the Prime Minister will not be able to testify in the proceeding for at least the next two weeks," the filing to the Jerusalem District Court said. A sealed envelope detailing those classified reasons was delivered to the court, which will issue a ruling once the prosecution has submitted its response.
Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face criminal charges. He denies allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust that were brought in 2019 after years of investigation. The trial, which began in 2020 and carries the potential for custodial sentences, has been repeatedly postponed in the past because of his official responsibilities and currently has no set end date.
Observers have noted that the criminal charges, together with the impact of the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023, have harmed Netanyahu's political standing. Israel is scheduled to hold a national election in October. Polling referenced in the court filing materials indicates that Netanyahu's coalition - described as the most right-wing in the country's history - is likely to lose that vote.
Contextual note: The court will decide how to proceed after receiving the prosecution's response to the defence filing and reviewing the sealed material that the defence submitted.