From the Liveblog of
Sunday, April 19, 2026
Netanyahu requests cancellation of his testimony in corruption trial for second week
Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requests that his testimony in hearings in his corruption trial this week be canceled for the second week running due to “security and diplomacy” reasons.
Netanyahu’s lawyers requested at the beginning of last week that the Jerusalem District Court cancel the prime minister’s testimony for two weeks in the wake of the war with Iran and the demands on his time, but the court canceled only last week’s hearings and told the premier’s lawyers to refile a cancellation request this week if it was still necessary.
The specific reasoning for today’s request was explained to the judges in a confidential letter.
The State Attorney’s Office has opposed the cancellation request, asserting that there is nothing so pressing on Netanyahu’s schedule that cannot be accommodated within the timetable for his court hearings.
The Times of Israel Community.