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Netanyahu’s Trial Resumes for Corruption Charges Amid Efforts to Sign Plea Deal

Demonstrators in Tel Aviv protesting the judicial reform plan, Israel, Saturday. (Reuters)
Demonstrators in Tel Aviv protesting the judicial reform plan, Israel, Saturday. (Reuters)
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Netanyahu’s Trial Resumes for Corruption Charges Amid Efforts to Sign Plea Deal

Demonstrators in Tel Aviv protesting the judicial reform plan, Israel, Saturday. (Reuters)
Demonstrators in Tel Aviv protesting the judicial reform plan, Israel, Saturday. (Reuters)

The trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Jerusalem District Court was resumed on Monday after one month of interruption.

Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes. The total sentence for these charges is 13 years.

There are however behind-the-scenes talks about signing a plea deal.

The session was held amid criticism expressed by the judges who are leading this trial at a slow pace and had decided to go on a vacation. The court’s secretariat announced that the judges are attempting to reduce the number of witnesses and have convinced the lawyers in the defense and prosecution of this.

Experts estimated that the trial would last for two years if the pace of holding the sessions remains as it is now.

They added that if Netanyahu managed to stay in power then he would seek to pass new laws that jeopardize the court's capacities and possibly halt the trial.

The trial began in 2020 at the Jerusalem District Court which holds three sessions weekly. Five delays have occurred so far due to feeble technical reasons imposed by lawyers or judges.

The indictment mentions three cases known as Case 1000, Case 2000, and Case 4000.

Case 1000 saw Netanyahu charged with fraud and breach of trust after being accused along with his wife of receiving gifts worth approximately 700,000 Israeli shekel (around $200,000) from Israeli-born film producer Arnon Milchan and Australian businessman James Packer.

In Case 2000, he is accused of attempting to make a deal with Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper publisher Arnon Mozes for softer coverage of him in exchange for legislation to curb the reach of rival daily Israel Hayom.

Case 4000 alleges that Netanyahu granted regulatory favors worth around 1.8 billion shekels (about $500 million) to Israeli telecommunications company Bezeq Telecom Israel.

In return, prosecutors say, he sought positive coverage of himself and his wife on the Walla news website controlled by the company’s former chairman, Shaul Elovitch.

In this case, Netanyahu has been charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Elovitch and his wife, Iris, have been charged with bribery and obstruction of justice. The couple deny wrongdoing.

Netanyahu denies all allegations against him and says that he is a victim of a political conspiracy. “Receiving gifts from friends is not forbidden,” according to Netanyahu.

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Ukraine’s Leader Urges EU Leaders to Meet Arms Promises as Security Pact Signed

27 June 2024, Belgium, Brussels: The leaders of the European Union pose for a group photo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the first day of the two-day EU summit in Brussels on the first day of the two-day EU summit in Brussels. (dpa)
27 June 2024, Belgium, Brussels: The leaders of the European Union pose for a group photo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the first day of the two-day EU summit in Brussels on the first day of the two-day EU summit in Brussels. (dpa)
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Ukraine’s Leader Urges EU Leaders to Meet Arms Promises as Security Pact Signed

27 June 2024, Belgium, Brussels: The leaders of the European Union pose for a group photo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the first day of the two-day EU summit in Brussels on the first day of the two-day EU summit in Brussels. (dpa)
27 June 2024, Belgium, Brussels: The leaders of the European Union pose for a group photo with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the first day of the two-day EU summit in Brussels on the first day of the two-day EU summit in Brussels. (dpa)

Ukraine’s president called on European Union leaders on Thursday to live up to their promises to provide military equipment to his war-ravaged country, as the bloc pledged to support the government in Kyiv long term.

"Fulfilment of every promise is important, not only in terms of protecting lives but also to destroy the Russian illusion that they will achieve something by war," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the leaders at an EU summit in Brussels.

Russian forces are seeking to press their advantage in troop numbers and weaponry before Ukraine’s armed forces are bulked up by promised new Western military aid, some of which is trickling to the front line, analysts say.

Zelenskyy thanked countries that have promised equipment, weapons and ammunition, but underlined that "we need them urgently on the battlefield." He also appealed for more help on "the urgent things -– air defense, that is one."

Zelenskyy and the leaders signed a 12-page document of "joint security commitments" to each other. In essence, it encapsulates what the 27-nation bloc has been doing for the country in terms of financial, military and other assistance since Russian forces invaded in February 2022.

The EU, for its part, commits to the "predictable, efficient, sustainable and long-term provision of military equipment," help with military training and building Ukraine's defense sector, plus increased cooperation on cyber and hybrid threats, like information manipulation and interference.

It also vows to help with mine clearance, security and law enforcement reform, energy security and nuclear safety, as well as assistance with rebuilding Ukraine's shattered infrastructure, hospitals and buildings, and to hold accountable those suspected of war crimes.

Ukraine promised to uphold European values and continue on its reform path in preparation to join the EU, including by ensuring civilian control over its security and defense forces. It also pledged to boost transparency and accountability in the way that it uses EU assistance.

Several countries already have similar bilateral agreements with Ukraine, offering a long-term commitment to help Kyiv, including once its war with Russia is over. Zelenskyy and US President Joe Biden signed one such pact earlier this month which will run for the next decade.

The EU's document was signed in the same week that it launched membership talks with Ukraine, a decade after Russian troops seized the Crimean Peninsula to deter the country from moving closer to the West, part of a chain of events that set the two neighbors on the path to war.

"We waited for this a long period of time," Zelenskyy told reporters, thanking the EU for its approval.

The bloc is notably concerned about rampant corruption in Ukraine and this must be corrected before the country can join. The accession process is likely to take several years.