In the protected basement of the Tel Aviv District Court, the defense phase in the Netanyahu trials began today (Tuesday), as the Prime Minister himself took the stand to testify starting at 11 AM. Preceding him was his attorney, Amit Hadad, who attacked the indictments and their validity and claimed personal persecution. He also presented the order of Netanyahu’s testimony, first discussing Case 4000 (the Elovitch and Bezeq affair, allegedly the most serious accusation of bribery), followed by Case 1000 (benefits from close business people), and finally Case 2000 (an offer for positive coverage in exchange for promoting legislation).
The Prime Minister’s testimony is expected to proceed in blocks of 6 hours, over 3 days each week, until it concludes – first with questioning by the defense attorney, and later with cross-examination by the prosecutors. Netanyahu received special approval to receive notes with urgent national security updates during his testimony, allowing him short breaks during the trial, which has already occurred several times thus far.
The Prime Minister’s testimony began with a short monologue about the history of his life and his public mission as he sees it. “These are not lives of indulgence. I work around the clock,” described the Prime Minister, “working 17-18 hours a day… my schedule is very busy, the security needs… it starts in the morning and ends in the morning… If I wanted to enjoy life, I wouldn’t be doing all this… but the public mission called me.”
“I have always believed that it is possible to both govern a country, and to testify,” Netanyahu said. “I thought and still think that it is possible to do both things concurrently, but a few days ago, a tectonic event occurred. An earthquake that hasn’t happened for a hundred years since Sykes-Picot, which set the borders, and it collapsed in one blow. It changes reality. We changed the Middle East, but it has a global scope because the powers are involved. It requires notes, attention,” Netanyahu justified the division of attention.
Netanyahu also addressed some of the accusations against him: “I waited 8 years for this moment, to tell the truth as I remember it for the sake of justice. This is an opportunity to puncture these unfounded accusations. I am simply astonished by the magnitude of the absurd and the magnitude of the injustice, an ocean of absurdity,” he said.
More updates from the testimony to follow.
