From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 12, 2025
Court lets drowsy Netanyahu out early after near-sleepless night over hostage release
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will end today’s testifying in his criminal trial after just two hours on the stand, the court allows, after the expected release of US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander by Hamas later today caused the premier to lose sleep.
Netanyahu’s attorney Amit Hadad tells the court that the prime minister slept only an hour and half during the night due to the developments regarding Alexander’s release. He notes that US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is on his way to Israel.
Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman asks Netanyahu what his level of alertness is, to which he responds “not high,” Channel 12 News reports, prompting Friedman-Feldman to have the hearing end at 11:30.
The Times of Israel Community.