This archive report was first published on 24 May 2020.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the Jerusalem District Court for the start of his long-delayed corruption trial. The trial marks a significant moment in Israeli history, as Netanyahu becomes the country's first sitting prime minister to face criminal charges.
Netanyahu, who has just formed a unity government after over a year of political turmoil, has long claimed to be the victim of a witch-hunt. He has repeatedly denied the allegations, calling them 'fabricated and ludicrous.'
Among the charges against Netanyahu is the claim that he offered media mogul Shaul Elovitch regulatory changes worth millions of dollars to his telecom giant Bezeq in exchange for favourable reporting on the Walla! news website. This charge is particularly complex, as it alleges that Netanyahu sought not only favourable media coverage but also complete editorial control of the site.
Netanyahu's trial has been delayed several times, including due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His lawyers had requested that he be excused from appearing in person at the opening of the trial, arguing that his attendance was merely technical. However, the court rejected this request, and Netanyahu attended the trial with his head held high, declaring that he was facing the charges with 'a straight back and my head held high.'
Small demonstrations of both supporters and opponents gathered in Jerusalem, with some protesters calling for Netanyahu's resignation and others defending him against what they see as a witch-hunt.
Netanyahu's trial is expected to last months or even years, and it remains to be seen how it will impact his political career. However, one thing is clear: this trial marks a significant moment in Israeli history and will have far-reaching consequences for the country's politics and democracy.
