Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, took the witness stand on Tuesday to testify in his long-running corruption trial, marking the first time he has personally addressed the court.
Netanyahu, 75, is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face criminal charges and the country’s longest-serving leader, having held office almost continuously since 2009.
“This is a moment I have waited eight years for—to tell the truth,” Netanyahu told the three-judge panel. “As prime minister, I am also leading the country through a complex seven-front war. I believe both duties can be managed concurrently.”
The trial was relocated from Jerusalem to an underground courtroom near Israel’s defense headquarters due to undisclosed security concerns.
Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three cases involving allegations of accepting gifts from wealthy associates and offering regulatory benefits to media executives in exchange for favorable coverage. He denies all charges and has pleaded not guilty.
Before Netanyahu’s testimony, his lawyer Amit Hadad argued that the investigations were politically motivated. “This wasn’t about investigating a crime; it was about targeting a person,” Hadad claimed.
Netanyahu’s court appearances had been delayed due to Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. However, judges recently ruled that the testimony must proceed, requiring Netanyahu to appear in court three times a week.
In the lead-up to the trial, Netanyahu criticized law enforcement, describing the investigations as a politically driven “witch hunt.” He has maintained his innocence throughout and has expressed outrage over the treatment of witnesses.
Netanyahu’s legal challenges have deeply divided Israeli society, triggering political turmoil and a series of elections. His government’s controversial judicial reform proposals further polarized the nation.
In addition to his domestic legal troubles, Netanyahu was recently named in an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes during the Gaza conflict, alongside former defense chief Yoav Gallant and a Hamas leader.
