Entering the Jerusalem District Court today for the opening of his trial, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed corruption charges against him and attacked elements within Israel’s political left, the police and state prosecution. Netanyahu described the charges he faces as "slanderous and delusional,' stating that "the objective is to topple a strong prime minister from the rightist camp and thus to remove the right wing from leadership for many years.' He also demanded that the court sessions be broadcast live.

Israel’s prime minister was indicted last January in three separate cases for fraud, bribery and breach of trust, almost four years after the start of police investigations against him in June 2016. His trial was originally set to open on March 17, shortly after the March 2 elections, but was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak and the ensuing restrictions on the operation of the courts.

Facing his three judges in courtroom 317, Netanyahu was read the letter of indictment. He then had to confirm verbally that he understood the charges against him. All in all, the procedure lasted for about 1½ hours.

Netanyahu was formally indicted in January 2020 in three cases: Case 1000 involving allegations of receiving gifts from businesspeople in exchange for favors; Case 2000 about allegedly plotting with Yedioth Ahronoth owner Arnon Mozes for a positive coverage deal; and Case 4000 that relates to his contacts with telecommunications tycoon Shaul Elovitch. Elovitch and his wife Iris, as well as Mozes, are also accused in this trial, and were present today in the courtroom.