Netanyahu arrives at court to take stand in his corruption trial

Nearly five years after his trial on corruption charges began, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in court to take the witness stand as a defendant to answer questions over the criminal allegations against him in three different cases, Report informs via The Times of Israel.

The hearings are taking place in an underground hall in the Tel-Aviv Jaffa District Court for security reasons, since the Jerusalem District Court house lacks adequate security arrangements.

In recent months, Netanyahu repeatedly sought to delay testifying, but having exhausted all avenues, his testimony begins now, in an effort to refute the charges of fraud and breach of trust leveled at him in all three cases, and bribery, the most serious allegation, in one of them.

Netanyahu’s defense attorneys will question the prime minister first, during which time, he will be able to expound at length in defense of his actions, in a process which will likely last two to three days. The majority of the prime minister’s time at the witness stand will then be taken up by the cross examination of the prosecution.

Once the prosecution completes its cross examination, Netanyahu’s defense attorneys will be able to call him back to the witness stand if they feel that he needs to clarify anything in his testimony.

Ministers and Netanyahu loyalists Miri Regev, Shlomo Karhi and Itamar Ben Gvir have arrived at the court to offer their support to the prime minister. Knesset Speaker, and Likud MK Amir Ohana, as well as Likud MKs Avichay Boaron, Osnat Mark, and Tali Gotliv are also in attendance to lend their public backing to Netanyahu.