PM said looking to reduce number of days he’ll spend testifying in court
Netanyahu asks that Shin Bet and Courts Administration present judges with details of intended security arrangements; he is meant to begin testifying in his graft trial on Dec. 10
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu requested on Thursday that the Jerusalem District Court hold a discussion regarding security arrangements for his upcoming testimony in court in his ongoing criminal trial, which is set to begin December 10.
Several Hebrew news outlets, including Channel 12, Ynet and Walla, also reported that Netanyahu is looking to reduce the number of days spent in court each week, citing the need to reduce the potential security risk. The court does not have bomb shelters, and a Thursday evening report by Channel 13 said the testimony will likely take place at the Tel Aviv District Court instead.
Netanyahu submitted the request to the court through his attorney, Amit Hadad, asking that by Monday, the Shin Bet security service and the Courts Administration present the judges with details of security arrangements for the prime minister’s testimony, specifying how many hours a day and days a week are judged safe for Netanyahu to spend in court.
The court responded that the request will be considered once the Shin Bet presents its assessment.
Unless other arrangements are made, Netanyahu is set to testify three days a week, for around six hours a day.
The Channel 13 report also said that Netanyahu’s aides have unsuccessfully tried to move the premier’s testimony to a place that isn’t a court. The outlet quoted an unnamed source familiar with the details as asserting that Netanyahu is trying to avoid being photographed taking the stand.
Earlier this month, the Haaretz daily reported that Netanyahu had asked the Shin Bet to come out against the premier testifying in court on security grounds. The report said that Netanyahu wanted the Shin Bet to declare that testifying in court would be unsafe, in light of the threat of missile and drone attacks by terror groups. A Hezbollah-launched drone hit Netanyahu’s private Caesarea home in October.
The Shin Bet reportedly rejected the request, but said it would work to ensure the premier’s security throughout the trial.
Netanyahu had been scheduled to begin testifying in his graft cases on December 2, but his defense team requested a 15-day postponement, citing lack of preparation due to Netanyahu’s intense schedule leading the country during a war. The court granted him an eight-day delay, with the testimony set to begin on December 10.
That request by the defense came on the back of a previous request earlier this month for a two-and-a-half-month delay, which the court rejected outright, stating that it had given the prime minister ample time to prepare when it set the date for his testimony back in July.
The State Attorney’s Office said on Monday that it was opposed to any further delays.
The prime minister has been charged with fraud and breach of trust in two cases and with bribery, fraud and breach of trust in a third. He was indicted in January 2020, and a trial encompassing all three cases began in May of that year.
Netanyahu has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has claimed that the charges were fabricated in a witch hunt led by the police and state prosecution.
Netanyahu has so far not taken the stand, though he has appeared in court on a handful of occasions.
The trial has faced criticism over its slow pace. As things stand, the proceedings, including a potential appeal to the Supreme Court, are seen as unlikely to end before 2028.
