After it was canceled on Monday, the hearing in the criminal trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed on Tuesday morning, but will be shortened due to “security reasons.”
The hearing began with an announcement from presiding judges Rivka Friedman-Feldman, Moshe Bar-Am and Oded Shaham that it would end at 1:30 p.m. instead of 4:30 p.m.
The trial is currently in its defense phase, as Netanyahu gets questioned by the prosecution over perceived inconsistencies in his testimonies or with the submitted evidence. The prosecution is in the last stages of cross-examination, and has estimated it needs a few full-day sessions to complete questioning.
The case in question is Case 2000, the media bribery case involving Netanyahu and Yediot Aharonot publisher and owner Arnon “Noni” Mozes.
Netanyahu is charged in the case with fraud and breach of trust
The case centers on conversations between Netanyahu and Mozes. According to the indictment, the two discussed a possible arrangement under which Mozes would improve Netanyahu’s coverage in Yediot in exchange for steps that would limit Israel Hayom, a rival newspaper whose free distribution posed a major economic threat to Yediot.
Netanyahu is charged in the case with fraud and breach of trust, while Mozes is charged with offering and promising a bribe. Both deny the allegations.
The broader trial, which began in 2020, includes three cases. Netanyahu is charged with fraud and breach of trust in Cases 1000 and 2000, and with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in Case 4000. He has denied wrongdoing and has repeatedly argued that the cases against him are politically motivated.
