Israel’s Netanyahu testifies in his corruption trial for first time

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. TEL AVIV—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stand on Tuesday to testify in his long-running corruption trial even as he manages a multi-front war—underscoring the tensions around his leadership Netanyahu, who will be the first sitting Israeli prime minister to testify in his own trial, was indicted in 2019 for corruption, fraud and breach of trust, charges he denies. Despite repeatedly requesting an extension because of Israel’s war in Gaza and in Lebanon, the courts said he must be available to testify three times a week for six hours at a time over the next few weeks.

The trial is a reminder of the deep divisions in Israeli society over Netanyahu’s leadership. His indictment led many of his political allies to break with him and set in motion a chain of events that saw five national elections in four years. His legal troubles also pit Netanyahu against the courts.

After taking office again in 2022, Netanyahu’s government pursued a sweeping plan to overhaul the country’s judicial system, sparking widespread protests that drew hundreds of thousands of Israelis to the streets for months on end. The Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack killed the progress of his plan to remake the courts, but has recently re-emerged.

His critics’ opposition has also morphed to include anger over his handling of the Gaza war—most notably over the lack of a deal to bring hostages home. Netanyahu’s testimony from a windowless underground bunker in a Tel Aviv courthouse comes as he has positioned himself as a polished leader on the world stage and at home. “The more concrete consequences of this testimony will be the effect on his public image," said Barak Medina, a legal scholar and professor at the