Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial opens this Sunday (illustration) – AMOS BEN GERSHOM / GPO / AFP
EDIT: The corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was adjourned Sunday after an hour of court hearing in the Jerusalem district court. No date for the resumption of hearings has been set. During the hearing, the Prime Minister’s lawyers asked several months to study the evidence against him, while the prosecution asked that witnesses be heard quickly. The three judges indicated that they were studying these requests.
The Israeli Prime Minister is expected this Sunday at the Jerusalem district court. Benyamin netanyahu is accused of having received 700,000 shekels (180,000 euros) of cigars, champagne and jewelry from wealthy personalities in exchange for financial or personal favors.
According to investigators, he also reportedly tried to secure favorable coverage from the largest paid daily newspaper.
Israel, the Yediot Aharonot. Finally, the courts suspect him of having granted government favors which could have brought in millions of dollars to the owner of the Israeli telecommunications company Bezeq in exchange for favorable media coverage by one of the group’s media, the influential site. Walla.
Explosive, but complex cases
Of the three cases for which Benjamin Netanyahu will be tried, it is that of corruption to obtain favorable press coverage which is the most explosive but perhaps also the most complex.
Indeed, how to prove media favors? “It’s not just offering favorable coverage [à Benyamin Netanyahou], having said good things about him […] but give it full editorial control over specific text and photos, “said Amir Fuchs, a researcher at the Democratic Institute in Israel, a research center in Jerusalem.
No judicial immunity
Before him, Ehud Olmert, a former star of Likud, his party, had already been charged with corruption but after having resigned from his mandate as Prime Minister. Olmert had been convicted of receiving bribes before languishing in prison for sixteen months.
In Israel, the Prime Minister has no judicial immunity, but, unlike other elected officials and public servants, he does not have to resign or withdraw during his trial.
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