Israel’s Netanyahu returns to court, pleads not guilty to corruption charges
- Israeli PM’s corruption trial resumes weeks before election
- Indictment accuses him of bribery, fraud and breach of trust
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pleaded not guilty on Monday to corruption charges at the resumption of his trial some six weeks before voters again pass judgment on his leadership.
“I confirm the written answer submitted in my name,” Netanyahu said, standing before a three-judge panel in a heavily-guarded Jerusalem District Court.
He was referring to a document his lawyers gave the court last month in which they argued he was not guilty of charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud.
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Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 in long-running cases involving gifts from millionaire friends and for allegedly seeking regulatory favours for media tycoons in return for favourable coverage.
He last came to court in May at the start of a trial subsequently delayed by coronavirus lockdowns. Netanyahu has called his prosecution a political witch hunt.
While Netanyahu told supporters not to show up to prevent a large gathering that could spread the coronavirus, protesters loudly demonstrated against him outside the court.
“Yalla Bibi leave” and “Bibi to jail”, they chanted, beating drums, blowing horns, using Netanyahu’s nickname.
Netanyahu wore a black face mask during the morning hearing, which he briefly attended before departing, leaving his defence lawyer to carry on without him.
The panel of three judges was hearing defence lawyers respond for the first time to the indictment filed against the 71-year-old, the first sitting premier in Israel’s history to stand trial.
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The hearing comes in the midst of campaigning, weeks before Israel’s fourth parliamentary election in two years.
Despite the trial, Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party continues to lead in opinion polls, although surveys say he would struggle to form a majority coalition.
In the months since May, his lawyers have studied the investigation’s material, filed pretrial motions and formulated their defence strategies.
Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin, of the Likud, urged the judges to only begin questioning witnesses after the March 23 vote, to avoid “gross interference by the judiciary” in the election process.
Reuters and DPA
