Judge orders Netanyahu to stay silent in his corruption trial

According to Walla, the trial began with shouting, while Netanyahu’s defence lawyers protested against the lengthy proceedings. The prime minister has been requesting shorter hearings, citing security concerns due to the ongoing war in Gaza, which the occupation authorities have not officially declared over.

The website did not specify the reasons behind the dispute that erupted at the beginning of the hearing.

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the judge instructed Netanyahu to remain seated and prohibited him from making any statements during the session. In response, the prime minister said he was “very surprised” by her conduct.

Netanyahu is accused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three distinct cases, referred to as Cases 1000, 2000 and 4000. The charges involve accepting lavish gifts in return for regulatory favours and diplomatic backing for powerful businessmen, as well as influencing media coverage to bolster his image.