Resumption of the corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Resumption, after two months of interruption. The corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed on Monday, December 4, in Jerusalem, approximately two months after its suspension, due to the bloody Hamas attack on October 7. At 74, he is suspected of having received large quantities of gifts from wealthy personalities worth around 700,000 shekels (or a little more than 173,000 euros).

These bribes took the form of cigars, bottles of champagne and jewelry distributed between 2007 and 2016. He is thus on trial for corruption, fraud and breach of trust. He is suspected of having in return promoted a tax provision that could have brought millions of dollars to the Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, producer of Brazil, JFK, Pretty woman or Born killers. However, the Israeli Finance Ministry vetoed it.

For his part, Benyamin Netanyahu claims to have only accepted gifts from friends, without having requested them, and considers himself the victim of a witch hunt. He will not be called to the stand immediately, but could appear to testify in a few months, according to the Israeli press. His trial, which opened in 2020, is a first in Israel for a sitting prime minister.