The testimony hearing in the criminal trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, scheduled for Monday, was canceled early in the morning after the court received an overnight update from his defense attorney, Amit Hadad.
Netanyahu had been scheduled to testify Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in the ongoing evidentiary stage of his trial, as his cross-examination in the so-called Case 1000, Case 2000, and Case 4000 proceedings continues to move in fits and starts.
According to the filing submitted to the court, Netanyahu had taken part in a cabinet meeting and a security briefing until late at night. The defense further said that an intense security schedule had been set for Monday, the details of which were submitted to the court and to the prosecution in a sealed envelope.
The court administration said Monday morning that the hearing would not take place “following an update received from attorney Amit Hadad during the night,” and that no further details could be provided at this stage.
Netanyahu’s testimony repeatedly affected by wartime developments
The cancellation marked the latest interruption in Netanyahu’s testimony, which has repeatedly been affected by wartime developments and classified security-diplomatic constraints. Last week, a separate hearing was also canceled on security grounds shortly before Netanyahu was expected to return to the witness stand after an extended break.
Netanyahu, who is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to testify as a criminal defendant, is charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in the three corruption cases against him. He denies all wrongdoing and has long maintained that the cases are politically motivated.
The cancellation also came as the legal and political context surrounding the trial continues to shift. Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Attorney Amit Aisman informed President Isaac Herzog that the prosecution was prepared to hold talks with the defense in an effort to formulate an appropriate plea deal, but only without preconditions and without harming the continued progress of the trial.
The response, signed by attorney Yonatan Kramer, an assistant to the attorney-general, followed Herzog’s invitation to the sides to explore whether an agreed resolution could be reached before he considers Netanyahu’s pending pardon request.
For now, however, the criminal proceedings remain formally underway, even as Netanyahu’s courtroom schedule continues to collide with his duties as prime minister during wartime.
