Netanyahu takes the stand in corruption trial
He is Israel's first sitting leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant


What happened
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified Tuesday at his corruption trial, becoming Israel's first sitting leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant. The trial has been underway for four years.
Who said what
Allegations of Netanyahu's corruption have "defined and disrupted Israeli public life for nearly a decade," The New York Times said. His legal perils have "bitterly divided Israelis and shook Israeli politics through five rounds of elections," Reuters said, though Hamas' Oct. 7 surprise attack pushed the allegations "off the public agenda as Israelis came together in grief and trauma."
Netanyahu derided the bribery, fraud and breach of trust allegations in a bid to "dwarf the events described in the indictment and present them as minor details unworthy of a leader of his stature," Haaretz said. Netanyahu testified he was glad to "refute the ridiculous charges" against him, while complaining that he was busy "managing a country" at war "on seven fronts."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
Beginning next week, "Netanyahu will be required to testify three days a week, six hours per day, for several weeks," The Washington Post said. Initially, he will "answer open-ended questions from his own attorneys," and "political observers say Netanyahu may try to avoid" the subsequent grilling by prosecutors "for as long as possible."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
How should Keir Starmer right the Labour ship?
Today's Big Question Rightward shift on immigration and welfare not the answer to 'haemorrhaging of hope, trust and electoral support'
-
What are the Abraham Accords and why are they under threat?
The Explainer The 2020 agreements would be 'undermined' if Israel annexes West Bank, UAE warns
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants
-
Florida aims to end all state vaccine requirements
Speed Read Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to cut vaccine access and install anti-vaccine activists at the FDA and CDC
-
US kills 11 on 'drug-carrying boat' off Venezuela
Speed Read Trump claimed those killed in the strike were 'positively identified Tren de Aragua Narcoterrorists' shipping drugs to the US