Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared before the Tel Aviv District Court on Wednesday for the 29th time to face corruption charges, in a trial that continues to shadow his political career.
According to Israeli media reports, Netanyahu has attended 29 court sessions since December 10, 2024, with hearings taking place twice weekly. The court is currently hearing his responses to charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust across three separate cases.
The newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported last Tuesday that trial judges approved a request by Netanyahu’s lawyer, Amit Hadad, for four additional sessions during the main testimony phase. This phase is scheduled to conclude on May 7, after which Netanyahu’s cross-examination will begin.
The charges stem from three major cases originally filed by former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in November 2019:
Case 1000: Allegations that Netanyahu and his family received expensive gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors.
Case 2000: Accusations that Netanyahu negotiated favorable media coverage with Arnon Mozes, publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
Case 4000: The most serious case, involving claims that Netanyahu granted regulatory benefits to Bezeq telecom executive Shaul Elovitch in exchange for positive coverage on Walla news site.
The trial, which began in 2020, remains ongoing. Netanyahu has consistently denied all charges, maintaining they constitute a politically motivated effort to remove him from power.
