Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested a postponement of his testimony in his ongoing corruption trial, citing security concerns in the region. The trial was set to resume on Sunday following the lifting of an emergency state due to the Iran war ceasefire. Netanyahu’s lawyer stated that the prime minister will not be able to testify for at least two weeks due to classified security and diplomatic reasons.
The charges against Netanyahu, including bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, were brought in 2019 after years of investigation. His trial, which began in 2020 and could result in jail time, has been repeatedly delayed due to his official duties with no end date in sight. The ongoing Hamas attacks on Israel have also negatively impacted Netanyahu’s standing.
Israel is scheduled for an election in October, where it is likely that Netanyahu’s coalition will lose according to polls.