Netanyahu asks to be excused from showing up at corruption trial
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose new government was sworn in Sunday, is trying to avoid having to appear before the court at the start of his corruption trial Sunday.
Days into his fifth term, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked to skip his scheduled court appearance at the opening of his corruption trial Sunday, Israeli media report.
Netanyahu, the country’s first sitting prime minister to be tried in court, was indicted in November on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. The investigation alleges Netanyahu accepted lavish gifts from wealthy businessmen and offered regulatory favors to media tycoons in exchange for favorable media coverage.
He denies any wrongdoing and called the trial a politically motivated “witch hunt” orchestrated by his leftist rivals, the media and state prosecutors.
The charges against Israel's longest serving prime minister are to be read out in full Sunday at the Jerusalem District Court. Netanyahu’s team argues the security measures necessary for his appearance at what is largely a technical hearing would “cost the public a fortune.” According to the Times of Israel, Netanyahu’s defense team filed the request Monday for Netanyahu to skip Sunday's hearing.
