From the Liveblog of
Friday, June 27, 2025
Prosecution opposes Netanyahu’s request for two week break in his graft trial testimony
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
The State Attorney’s Office opposes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for a two-week hiatus in his trial, citing the slow pace of his testimony and the upcoming summer recess as its reason for doing so.
Netanyahu’s defense attorney Amit Hadad had said that the premier required the two-week break to devote his time to “diplomatic, national and security issues of the first order,” in the wake of the recent war with Iran, which ended on Tuesday.
According to Hadad, the issues include “managing the war in Gaza and dealing with the issue of the hostages.”
In its response, the State Attorney’s office says that the “general reasons detailed in the request cannot justify canceling two weeks of hearings, particularly in the run up to the recess.”
It notes that it has already made adjustments to better accommodate Netanyahu’s obligations, including by allowing him to testify twice a week, rather than three times a week.
“The prosecution, therefore, opposes the request,” it adds.
The Jerusalem District Court will now have to issue a decision on the matter.
The request for a two-week break was submitted hours after US President Donald Trump demanded the cancellation of the premier’s trial, calling it a “Witch Hunt against [Israel’s] Great War Time Prime Minister.”
Netanyahu is on trial in three corruption cases, facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies any wrongdoing and says all the charges were fabricated in a political coup led by the police and state prosecution.
The Times of Israel Community.