Israeli Court Rejects Netanyahu Request to Delay Trial

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Reuters)
TT
20

Israeli Court Rejects Netanyahu Request to Delay Trial

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (Reuters)

An Israeli court on Tuesday rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to delay the start of his corruption trial, clearing the way for proceedings to begin as planned next week.

Netanyahu's lawyers had appealed for a delay, saying they needed more time to review evidence. State prosecutors responded that they oppose any delays and the court accepted their position.

In overruling the request, the presiding judge wrote that the first session on March 17 was a procedural reading of the charges only and the defendant's response was not needed, therefore there was no justification for a delay.

Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in connection to a series of scandals that include accepting expensive gifts from wealthy friends and offering to exchange favors with powerful media moguls. The long-ruling Israeli leader denies any wrongdoing and says he is the victim of a media-orchestrated witch hunt.

His legal troubles stood at the center of last week's national election, Israel's third in less than a year. Like elections last April and September, this one ended inconclusively.

Netanyahu's opponent, Benny Gantz, refused to sit with him in government and appears poised to push for legislation in the incoming parliament that would bar anyone indicted for a crime being able to lead a government — in effect disqualifying Netanyahu from leading the country.

While the most straightforward way out of the deadlock in each of the previous rounds was a unity government, the sides have grown increasingly acrimonious toward each other with each campaign.

On Tuesday, members of Netanyahu's Likud Party abstained from a procedural vote meant to approve the official election results, citing their demand for a recount of hundreds of ballots that are in contention. Gantz's Blue and White said the move set a “dangerous precedent” that damaged the legitimacy of the country's elections commission.

The anti-Netanyahu forces in the new incoming parliament command a 62-58 majority but are deeply divided among themselves, even though Gantz and the smaller Yisrael Beitenu party, led by Netanyahu ally-turned-nemesis Avigdor Lieberman, have agreed to cooperate to form a government.

Israel's president will soon begin consultations with the elected parties to determine who to tap as prime minister-designate, typically the leader of the largest party and in this case Netanyahu. If the deadlock continues, Israel could see itself heading toward a fourth straight election, which experts say would have disastrous effects on the public's confidence in their elected officials and electoral system.

Netanyahu is desperate to remain in office because installing a new government would give him an important political boost and potentially allow him to legislate his way out of the legal quagmire.

Amit Haddad, one of Netanyahu's lawyers, had said he would seek a delay in the start of the trial. He said the request was “technical” and meant to give the defense time to review investigative materials that it still has not received.



Khamenei: Loss of Iranian Commanders, Scientists is Heavy Blow

An Iranian woman holds up a poster of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an anti-Israeli gathering in Tehran, Iran, July 25, 2025 (AFP) 
An Iranian woman holds up a poster of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an anti-Israeli gathering in Tehran, Iran, July 25, 2025 (AFP) 
TT
20

Khamenei: Loss of Iranian Commanders, Scientists is Heavy Blow

An Iranian woman holds up a poster of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an anti-Israeli gathering in Tehran, Iran, July 25, 2025 (AFP) 
An Iranian woman holds up a poster of the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in an anti-Israeli gathering in Tehran, Iran, July 25, 2025 (AFP) 

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei admitted on Saturday the loss of military commanders and nuclear scientists as a heavy loss for Iran but insisted that “the enemy has not achieved its goal.”

Khamenei, 86, had claimed victory after 12 days of war with Israel, culminating in an Iranian attack on the largest US base in the region, located in Qatar.

On June 25, he said the United States “has gained nothing from this war,” claiming that American strikes “did nothing significant” to Iran’s nuclear facilities.

But in his message on Saturday commemorating the 40th day after the killing of the senior military commanders and scientists, Khamenei said, “The blow was delivered by the wicked and criminal Zionist ruling group, which is the vile and hostile enemy of the Iranian nation.”

He added, “Without a doubt, the loss of commanders such as (chief of staff of Iran's Armed Forces) Mohammed Bagheri, (commander of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) Hossein Salami, (commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters) Gholam-Ali Rashid, (commander of the IRGC Air Force) Amir Ali Hajizadeh, (top Revolutionary Guard commander) Ali Shadmani and other military personnel, as well as scientists like Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, Fereidoun Abbasi and other scholars, is heavy for any nation.”

But Khamenei concluded, “The foolish and shortsighted enemy did not achieve its goal.”

He said the Iranian Revolution's military and scientific progress would soon “press forward faster than before toward lofty horizons.”

The Iranian leader also noted that in this tragic event, Iran has once again demonstrated the strength of its foundations. “Iran's enemies are hammering on cold iron”

He therefore said that “continually equipping the country with the means to protect its national security and independence is the duty of our military commanders.”

Iran has said Israel killed more than 40 senior security officials and senior nuclear scientists to deliver a major blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Khamenei’s statement came as Iran's government and diplomatic team are actively seeking to re-engage in negotiations regarding its nuclear program.

Simultaneously, Tehran is trying to avoid the threats of UN sanctions snapback.

Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3 nations, have threatened to trigger a “snapback” mechanism included in a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which would reimpose sanctions that were lifted in exchange for Iran accepting restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program.

Foreign Priorities

At the political level, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed to focus the country’s foreign policy on regional outreach and on ties with China and Russia.

He urged the country’s foreign ministry to enhance relations with neighboring countries by removing border barriers and fostering extensive economic connections.

During a meeting with the ministry’s team in Tehran on Saturday, Pezeshkian said, “Through established coordination and policies, we will seek to prioritize expansion of closer, deeper, and better relations with our neighbors, and then develop and advance our ties with the countries with which we have good interactions, including Russia, China, the BRICS group, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Eurasian Union.”

He said Iran’s enemies aggressively sought during the recent 12-day war to bring the country to its knees, “but the dear Iranian nation took outstanding measures that need to be appreciated earnestly.”