Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified for the second day in a Tel Aviv underground courtroom, where he faced several challenges amidst his ongoing corruption trial, Case 4000. The prosecution had presented written messages from middleman Zeev Rubinstein suggesting that Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, were involved in media bribery requests to Walla officials.
Netanyahu maintained that he did not know about most of the requests, which could potentially discredit his defense. If the court finds that Netanyahu was involved in only a few instances, it would significantly weaken the prosecution’s case. The prime minister also defended himself against charges, stating that he had made hundreds of phone calls to Sheldon Adelson, owner of Israel Hayom, and downplayed Walla’s influence.
Netanyahu’s testimony has focused on proving that his requests to media outlets were routine and not part of a larger scheme. He claimed that he tried to convince Shaul Elovitch, the owner of Walla, to reframe the website in a more right-wing direction but denied any direct involvement in financial benefits or Bezeq’s business ventures.
The prime minister also criticized the media coverage of his wife, Sara, and defended her actions. He argued that some claims made against her were exaggerated and that she is a hero who tries to expose the truth about him.
Netanyahu’s defense team will have to counter testimonies from witnesses such as Nir Hefetz and Shlomo Filber, who have presented narratives of alleged corruption involving the prime minister. If Netanyahu’s defense can prove that his requests to media outlets were standard practice for politicians, it could strengthen his case.
The trial has faced several challenges, including the fact that Netanyahu is the first sitting prime minister in Israeli history to testify in a public corruption trial. The court’s schedule has also raised concerns, with Netanyahu testifying three times a week during the war.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-832981