An Israeli court has rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to postpone upcoming hearings in his ongoing corruption trial, dismissing the argument that his national security duties following the recent conflict with Iran should exempt him from appearing.
The Jerusalem District Court published its ruling online on Friday, stating that the application lacked sufficient detail and failed to justify cancelling the scheduled proceedings.
Netanyahu’s legal team had asked the court to excuse the prime minister from attending hearings over the next fortnight, citing the need for him to focus on pressing security matters in the wake of the 12-day war with Iran, which ended with a ceasefire on June 24.
The court’s decision came a day after US President Donald Trump weighed in, describing the case against Netanyahu as a “witch hunt” and calling for it to be “cancelled immediately” or for the Israeli leader to be pardoned.
Netanyahu has thanked Trump for his vocal support during the recent conflict. He continues to deny all allegations and claims the charges are politically driven.
The prime minister and his wife, Sara, stand accused in one case of accepting over $260,000 in lavish gifts—including cigars, champagne, and jewellery—from wealthy associates in exchange for political favours.
In two separate cases, Netanyahu is alleged to have sought favourable news coverage from Israeli media outlets in return for regulatory or legislative benefits.
Since returning to office in late 2022, Netanyahu’s government has introduced a string of controversial judicial reform proposals, which critics argue are aimed at undermining the independence of the courts.
Netanyahu has previously requested several delays to the trial, citing ongoing hostilities in Gaza since 2023, clashes in Lebanon, and now the latest military campaign against Iran.
