Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's lawyer Amit Hadad arrives for a court hearing in the trial against premier at the Jerusalem District Court on November 13, 2024 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s defense attorney in his corruption trial, Amit Hadad, says in a hearing at the Jerusalem District Court that the premier is unable to prepare properly for giving testimony on December 2, the date set by the court, because he has put the needs of the country above his personal legal interests during the current war.
“Netanyahu is managing the entire war, and there are weeks when we can’t meet with him. How can this be ignored?” demands Hadad, adding, “Do we not want a PM whose head is entirely in managing the war?”
Adds Hadad: “We’ve done so much to prepare for this testimony. Meetings have been canceled or postponed when other things come first.”
Hadad rejects the prosecution’s claim that further delaying the trial, now approaching the end of its fourth year, would damage the principle of equality before the law, and says the prime minister should not have to testify without being properly prepared.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Jerusalem District Court to listen to video testimony from businessman Arnon Milchan in the prime minister’s corruption trial, June 27, 2023. (Oren Ben Hakoon / Flash90)
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
From 
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
