Netanyahu Resumes Corruption Trial Amid Health Concerns

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to the Tel Aviv District Court on Monday to resume his testimony in his corruption trial, after a prolonged delay due to his illness. Netanyahu, accompanied by a doctor, appeared fatigued and irritable during his testimony, which is focused on charges that he offered regulatory benefits in exchange for favorable media coverage.

Netanyahu, who had been recovering from an infection following prostate surgery in December, requested the court to consider his health and the heavy demands of his position as Israel's leader. His defense team had previously asked for the hearings to be held once a week due to his condition, but the court decided to hold truncated sessions three times a week, each lasting from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with breaks as necessary.

During Monday's hearing, Netanyahu strongly denied the testimonies of former aides who accused him of engaging in a media bribery scheme. He dismissed claims from Nir Hefetz, his former communications aide, calling them fabricated under pressure. Netanyahu emphasized that he had been angered by his former aides' testimonies but later understood that they were coerced into lying.

The prime minister also refuted allegations that he had made deals with media mogul Shaul Elovitch to secure favorable coverage for himself and his family. Netanyahu claimed that the coverage mentioned in the indictment did not even result in published articles, challenging the validity of the prosecution's case.

Throughout the proceedings, Netanyahu repeatedly expressed frustration with what he described as an "absurd" and "puzzle-like" indictment. He criticized the media for ignoring his efforts to communicate his narrative and blamed the media landscape for being hostile to his positions, claiming it undermines democracy.

Netanyahu is scheduled to return to the court on Tuesday as the trial continues. The long-awaited resumption of his testimony marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle, which has been clouded by health issues and intense public scrutiny.