Jerusalem, Indefinite. The Israeli Justice Department announced this Thursday that it plans to resume the trial this Sunday. corruption trial open against the country’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahuand which was suspended within the framework of the state of emergency decreed during the offensive launched at the end of February together with the United States against Iran.
“After withdrawing the state of emergency in force throughout the country and due to the resumption of work in the Israeli judicial system, the hearings will take place in an ordinary manner,” Justice indicated in a statement.
Netanyahu He is being tried for three corruption casesaccused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. In a first case, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accept luxury itemssuch as cigars, jewelry and champagne, worth around €250,000, coming from billionaires, in exchange for political favors.
Among these accusations against him is the misuse of power to pressure the media and that they disseminate information favorable to the Government. One of the cases dates back to the year 2000, when he allegedly tried to reach an agreement with the newspaper ‘Yedioth Aharonot’ to speak positively about his administration in exchange for promoting legislation that would harm its main competition, the newspaper ‘Israel Hayom’.
The prime minister denies having committed any crime and claims that all charges were invented in a political coup led by the Police and the Prosecutor’s Office. The process, under constant delays since its opening in May 2020, seems long, especially due to the context in the region.
Iran says Netanyahu rejects truce to avoid prison
The Foreign Minister of Iran, Abbas Araqchi, has echoed the announcement of the Israeli Justice, ensuring that a ceasefire in the Middle East“including” Lebanon, It would “accelerate” Netanyahu’s entry into prison.
“If the United States wants to sink its economy by allowing Netanyahu to end diplomacy, ultimately that would be its decision. We think it would be foolish, but we are prepared for it,” he defended in a brief message on his social networks.
His statements come after the Israeli Army intensified its attacks against Lebanon, leaving at least 200 dead in a single day, coinciding with the twelve-day truce reached between Tehran and Washington, which alleges that Lebanese territory is not included in the ceasefire, despite what was stated by Pakistan, the mediating country.
