Netanyahu, who was accompanied by several ministers from his ruling Likud party, was met by protesters as he arrived at the courthouse. Despite the public backlash, the prime minister maintained a calm demeanor, smiling as his motorcade passed through a crowd of demonstrators.

The hearing comes just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly called for Netanyahu to be pardoned, referencing the charges during a speech to the Israeli parliament.

“Cigars and champagne who the hell cares about that?” Trump remarked, referring to one of the allegations, before turning to Israeli President Isaac Herzog and asking: “Why don’t you give him a pardon?”

Netanyahu is currently facing charges in three separate cases. In one, he and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, are accused of accepting over $260,000 in gifts including luxury cigars, champagne, and jewelry from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors. In the two other cases, the prime minister is alleged to have sought favorable media coverage from prominent Israeli news outlets in return for regulatory benefits.

Netanyahu denies all charges, insisting he is the target of a politically motivated campaign.

The corruption trial has continued to cast a long shadow over Netanyahu’s current term, which began in late 2022. His controversial push for sweeping judicial reforms sparked widespread protests across the country demonstrations that only subsided after the war in Gaza escalated following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.

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Wednesday’s court appearance also follows the return of Israeli hostages captured by Hamas, part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan led by Trump in an attempt to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

In a further development, Netanyahu is also facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, ICC, over alleged war crimes committed during Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Netanyahu remains the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history, with more than 18 years in office across multiple terms since 1996.

Source: Punch