Netanyahu corruption trial postponed due to emergency political meeting

Hebrew media reported today, Sunday, that the trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which was scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, on corruption charges against him, has been postponed.

Channel 12 Hebrew stated that it was decided to cancel Netanyahu's hearing before the Central Court in Tel Aviv on Monday due to what it described as an "urgent political meeting."

The channel clarified that the Public Prosecution did not object to the request to cancel Netanyahu's testimony, which was also confirmed by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.

Neither the channel nor the newspaper mentioned the nature of the emergency meeting that led to the cancellation of Netanyahu's trial hearing.

It is noteworthy that many of Netanyahu's hearing sessions before the court have been postponed in the past, due to claims of illness or other political engagements.

Netanyahu is being tried on corruption charges that could warrant his imprisonment if convicted, and last Sunday he submitted a request for a pardon to Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The prosecution resumed questioning Netanyahu last Wednesday, in his second interrogation since submitting the pardon request, which sparked widespread controversy between supporters and opponents.

Last November, former US President Donald Trump called on his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog to grant Netanyahu a pardon.

Since the beginning of his trial, Netanyahu has refused to plead guilty, knowing that Israeli law does not allow the president to grant a pardon except after pleading guilty.

Netanyahu faces charges of corruption, bribery and breach of trust in three cases, one of which relates to him and members of his family receiving valuable gifts from businessmen, in exchange for providing them with facilities and assistance in various fields.

The second case relates to accusations against Netanyahu of negotiating with the publisher of the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, Arnon Mozes, to obtain positive media coverage.

The third case relates to providing facilities to the former owner of the "Walla" news website, Shaul Elovitch, who was also an official at the Bezeq telecommunications company, in exchange for obtaining positive media coverage.

In addition to his trial locally, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on November 21, 2024, on charges of responsibility for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.