Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stand Monday as his long-running corruption trial resumed in a Tel Aviv court.
Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes in three separate cases, making him the first sitting Israeli leader to testify as a criminal defendant.
Prosecutors accuse him of accepting tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of cigars and champagne from a Hollywood producer in exchange for political and business favors. He is also alleged to have promoted regulatory benefits for media moguls in return for favorable coverage of himself and his family.
Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, calling the accusations baseless and a politically motivated “witch hunt” by the media and legal system aimed at removing him from power.
The cases were first filed in 2019, and the trial began in May 2020. His testimony marks another low point in the tenure of Israel’s longest-serving leader.
Separately, Netanyahu faces an international arrest warrant for alleged war crimes related to Israel’s war against Hamas.
Meanwhile, more than 2,000 protesters gathered in Jerusalem on Sunday night, calling for an end to the war and a deal to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza. Demonstrators held signs reading “We are all hostages,” while one protester wore a mask depicting Netanyahu in a prison uniform.
Critics accuse Netanyahu of prolonging the war to delay his trial and cling to power. Under Israeli law, he is not required to resign unless convicted and the Supreme Court upholds the verdict, a process that could take months.