Netanyahu Concludes Testimony in Corruption Trial After 98 Sessions Over 18 Months

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has concluded his testimony in his corruption trial, local media including The Times of Israel reported on June 24 (local time).

In his final testimony in court on this day, Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly launched a fierce attack against the prosecutors who indicted him.

"Their goal was to dig through everything to find something, but in the end, they found nothing," he claimed. "They used unbelievable interrogation methods, questioning all my relatives and family, and destroyed my family. They didn't find a crime; they targeted a specific person, and they found nothing."

Prime Minister Netanyahu first took the stand on December 10, 2024, and since then, 98 court sessions have been held.

However, the schedule for his testimony was delayed multiple times as the Prime Minister requested cancellations or shortened sessions, citing health issues, overseas trips, and urgent security and diplomatic matters that required his direct attention.

Israeli prosecutors indicted Prime Minister Netanyahu in November 2019 on three counts of corruption, including bribery, breach of trust, and fraud.

He is accused of receiving gifts worth approximately $200,000 from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and using diplomatic channels to pressure officials to help Milchan with a U.S. visa extension and tax benefits.

He also faces charges of making a backroom deal with the publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth, the country's largest-selling newspaper, to secure favorable coverage in exchange for efforts to reduce the circulation of a rival paper, as well as pressuring the internet portal Walla, owned by the telecommunications firm Bezeq, to publish positive articles.

As the remaining witnesses are scheduled to appear and testify, the corruption trial of Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to continue for several more months.

While the hearings for Prime Minister Netanyahu's testimony were held at the Tel Aviv District Court due to insufficient security measures at the Jerusalem District Court, the remaining proceedings are set to resume at the Jerusalem court.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.