Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asks to skip opening of corruption trial due to coronavirus guidelines
- Lawyers for the Israeli leader said that due to a requirement for five bodyguards, the hearing would break coronavirus distancing rules
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lawyers asked a Jerusalem court on Tuesday for their client to be exempted from attending the start of his impending corruption trial.
The request from Netanyahu’s legal team, seen by AFP, comes after the justice ministry objected to the veteran premier missing his first hearing on May 24.
Netanyahu’s presence in the court requires five bodyguards, his lawyers wrote, meaning the hearing would not be able to take place “within the limitations set by the health ministry due to the coronavirus pandemic”.
The premier’s legal team asked the court for an exemption after discussing it with the justice ministry. The power to grant such a request lies with the Jerusalem court set to hear the case. The court, which must now rule on the formal request from Netanyahu’s lawyers, has previously said the defendant must appear in person.
In a statement just two days after the swearing-in of a unity government headed by Netanyahu following a year of political deadlock, the justice ministry pointed to “the importance of justice being seen to be done, and of public trust” in the trial.
