A panel of judges overseeing Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s criminal trial ruled on Wednesday that he no longer needs to appear in the courtroom before their arrival — a decision made after security officials warned that it had become “difficult to maintain order.” The move spares Netanyahu from the pre-hearing media frenzy, where he would normally face shouted questions and flashing cameras.
In Israel, defendants are generally photographed before proceedings begin, but the Tel Aviv District Court has faced mounting chaos in recent sessions. Haaretz reported that several journalists tried to question Netanyahu ahead of Tuesday’s hearing despite a prior warning from the bench that such interactions were off-limits.
Netanyahu briefly exited the room and returned only once the judges entered, effectively avoiding the media scrum. He later called the entire situation “absurd.”
The latest hearing opened with a plea from Netanyahu’s lead attorney, Amit Hadad, who argued that the current schedule of four weekly hearings was unsustainable for the defense team. “We will not be able to provide Netanyahu the legal service that we think he deserves,” Hadad told the court. “I don’t want to resign, I really like the prime minister on a personal level; he is family to me. But I will not fail in my duty and arrive halfheartedly and unprepared.”
Netanyahu himself addressed the judges, emphasizing the immense strain of balancing his position with the courtroom demands. “With all due respect, you cannot have any idea of the extent of the workload,” he said, adding, “I am in the most difficult position in the world.”
He went on to argue that, “If we say equality before the law, then no one receives preferential treatment. And there are no cases where there are three hearings a week.”
Despite those objections, the court reaffirmed its plan for four sessions per week — with Netanyahu required to testify in three — and dismissed his attorneys’ appeal for fewer appearances. The judges cited extensive delays since the case began in 2020 and warned that, at the current pace, Netanyahu’s testimony might stretch into April 2026, with the full trial possibly extending into 2027.
Earlier this week, Netanyahu’s defense team said they could not continue under the current schedule, threatening to withdraw entirely if their request was rejected. They also told the judges that the prime minister’s national responsibilities made it impossible for him to attend three hearings per week as required.
The defense has frequently sought to slow the proceedings, citing Netanyahu’s health and duties as reasons to postpone. The court, however, recently opted to accelerate the pace in response to years of delays.
Netanyahu stands trial in three separate corruption cases — known as Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000 — involving allegations of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery. The prime minister has consistently maintained his innocence, declaring that all the accusations were “fabricated in a political coup led by the police and state prosecution.”
{Matzav.com}
