Netanyahu's corruption trial testimony postponed indefinitely
What's the story
The resumption of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's testimony in his ongoing corruption trial has been indefinitely postponed, the Times of Israel reported, citing Hebrew media. The proceedings were supposed to resume on Monday after a two-month hiatus due to the conflict with Iran. However, the sudden postponement comes after specific security concerns were raised by Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Hadad.
Witness change
Court accepts defense request to postpone proceedings
The Jerusalem District Court had earlier canceled Netanyahu's scheduled appearances for this week, accepting a defense request citing "security and diplomatic" considerations. The court has now agreed to hear testimony from another defense witness, Ilanit Filber, wife of former Netanyahu aide and state witness Shlomo Filber. This decision comes despite opposition from the State Attorney's Office, which argued that the Prime Minister should adjust his schedule to complete cross-examination in the public interest.
Bribery allegations
Netanyahu charged with bribery in 'Case 4000'
The trial is centered on "Case 4000," also known as the Bezeq-Walla affair. In this case, Netanyahu is charged with bribery for allegedly directing regulatory decisions that benefited businessman Shaul Elovitch's Bezeq telecom company in exchange for favorable coverage on the Walla news website. The prime minister has consistently denied these allegations, including claims surrounding a key "directive meeting" with Shlomo Filber, who served as Communications Ministry director-general.
Trial progress
Trial currently in cross-examination phase
The trial is currently in the cross-examination phase, which started in June 2025 after Netanyahu's initial appearance on the stand in December 2024. The postponement of his testimony due to security concerns has further delayed proceedings. While the trial has been postponed over security reasons, the Times of Israel reported that "no further details are immediately available" regarding the nature of the security risks.