PM: Not delaying my corruption trial would be election interference
Netanyahu speaks at press conference hours after court appearance in bid to show he is conducting business as usual, claims proceedings show cases against him on charges of corruption were fabricated and likely to fall apart
Ynet, Agencies |
Updated: 02.08.21 , 19:33
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said that a decision by the Jerusalem District Court to proceed with his criminal trial before the March 23 elections could be viewed as interference in the political process.
Netanyahu was speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem hours after he appeared at Jerusalem District Court to respond to charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust in three separate investigations.
Netanyahu formally pleads not guilty in 2nd court appearance of corruption trial
With hundreds of protesters outside, PM arrives early for hearing, then leaves with permission; defense seeks 3-4 month delay to start of evidentiary stage; elections 6 weeks away
Times of Israel: Under heavy security and after several delays due to the coronavirus lockdown, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived Monday morning at the Jerusalem District Court for a much-anticipated hearing in his corruption trial, focusing on his and other defendants’ response to the indictments and kicking off the intensified evidentiary phase of the trial.
After formally denying the charges against him and receiving permission from the judges to leave, Netanyahu stood up some 20 minutes into the discussion, thanked the bench and left the court. Unlike during the opening of his trial last year, the premier made no statement to the media before or after his court appearance, nor did he make any statement online.