JERUSALEM: Corruption trial against extremist Benjamin Netanyahu has been resumed despite the country’s continuing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Western media reported on Monday.
Netanyahu, leader of Israel’s right-wing Likud party, is accused of bribery, breach of trust and fraud. Netanyahu and his supporters have termed the allegations against him are politically motivated.
He has been under server criticism after he proposed a controversial judicial overhaul that would curb some powers held by the courts.
The plan had plunged Israel into one of its worst domestic crises, creating societal rifts and exacerbating existing ones.
Opponents of the plan argue that it would threaten and disrupt the country’s delicate system of checks and balances.
They fear that it would give too much power to elected lawmakers and undermine the independence of the judiciary.
Netanyahu’s high-profile trial is likely to continue for several more months or years.
According to prosecutors in one of three cases, Netanyahu and the shareholder of Israel’s Bezeq telecom giant exchange regulatory favors for positive coverage on a news site owned by the firm.
Second case pertains to Netanyahu’s relationship with Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and other wealthy personalities.
Between 2007 and 2016 Netanyahu allegedly received high value gifts including boxes of cigars, bottles of champagne and jewelry, in exchange for financial or personal favors.
Netanyahu, is Israel’s first incumbent prime minister to face trial. He denies any misconduct, saying gifts were only accepted from friends without any favors.
In October 2019, his lawyers claim that according to an expert legal opinion he had a right to accept gifts from close friends.
