This archive report was first published on 25 May 2020.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the Jerusalem District Court on Sunday, May 24, 2020, for the start of his 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, rejected the charges against him, calling them "fabricated and ludicrous." He declared that he was facing the hearing "with my head held high," and requested that the proceedings be broadcast live and uncensored.
The 70-year-old prime minister is accused of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in a series of cases. Among the charges, he is accused of seeking to illegally trade favors in exchange for positive media coverage and accepting gifts worth 700,000 shekels (180,000 euros) from wealthy individuals.
Netanyahu's lawyers argued for a delay to the trial, which is expected to last months or even years. Small demonstrations of both supporters and opponents gathered in Jerusalem, with some protesters calling for a just trial and others condemning the prime minister's actions.
Among the most serious allegations against Netanyahu is the claim that he offered media mogul Shaul Elovitch regulatory changes worth millions of dollars in exchange for favorable reporting on the Walla! news website. This charge is considered unprecedented and differs from classic bribery cases where money changes hands.
