Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a delay in his court appearance, putting the Netanyahu corruption trial back in focus as Israel’s prime minister seeks to postpone testimony that was due to resume next week.
According to a court filing submitted Friday, Netanyahu’s lawyer said the request was based on classified security and diplomatic concerns linked to recent developments in Israel and the wider Middle East.
Netanyahu’s trial will resume on Sunday after Israel lifted the state of emergency it imposed during the war with Iran following Wednesday’s ceasefire announcement. The defence said it was ready to continue hearing testimony from a prosecution witness. However, it argued that the prime minister will not be able to testify for at least the next two weeks.
In a filing to the Jerusalem District Court, Netanyahu’s legal team said it could not disclose the reasons publicly. Instead, it submitted a sealed envelope containing classified information for the court’s review. The defence said “classified security and diplomatic reasons” tied to dramatic recent developments in Israel and across the Middle East prompted the request.
The court will now rule after prosecutors submit their response. The next step in the case, therefore, depends on whether the judges accept the explanation and grant the postponement.
Netanyahu denies the bribery, fraud and breach-of-trust charges brought against him in 2019 after years of investigation. He is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to be charged with a crime. The trial began in 2020 and has faced repeated delays, often because of his official responsibilities.
If convicted, the case could carry jail terms. Yet the proceedings have continued for years with no clear end date in sight.
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The corruption case has weighed on Netanyahu politically, alongside the fallout from the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023. Israel is due to hold an election in October, and polls suggest Netanyahu’s coalition could lose. That adds another layer of pressure as legal and political challenges continue to unfold.
