Knesset speaker calls on judges to think beyond law, pave way for end to Netanyahu trial

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana calls on the High Court of Justice to grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a two-week recess in his ongoing criminal trial, asserting that such a grace period could provide an opportunity to reach an agreement to end the trial or for the court to “expunge the indictment” against the premier on procedural grounds.

According to Hebrew media, Netanyahu is currently presenting his case for a two-week break in his trial in a closed hearing before the Jerusalem District Court.

“The court is now considering a request to postpone the hearings scheduled for [the coming] two weeks,” writes Ohana in a lengthy post on X in which he advances what he describes as a “practical, realistic, sane and logical proposal to end” the long-running legal saga.

The judges in Netanyahu’s case are supposed to be the “responsible adults” in the room and should entertain “considerations that are not purely legal,” he writes, arguing that the law is meant to serve the public interest and that “the trial is the means” to that end, “not the goal” in and of itself.

The comment appears to dovetail with claims from US President Donald Trump and allies of the premier that dismissing the trial will play a key component in clinching a deal to end the war in Gaza and free hostages still held there.

Ohana says the parties can end the trial by coming to some sort of agreement. Alternatively, he suggests, the court can declare a mistrial on procedural grounds and get rid of it that way.

“The judges have a real opportunity to take part in history, and to redeem the people of Israel. I hope they will not miss it,” Ohana asserts.