Netanyahu appears in court for first time in corruption trial

The Israeli prime minister says his appearance in court jeopardises his country’s national security at a critical time.

Transcript

00:00Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in court taking the stand more than

00:06four years after his trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust began.

00:13Netanyahu is accused of granting regulatory favors in exchange for positive press coverage

00:18as well as receiving gifts in return for political favors.

00:22The Prime Minister maintains his innocence and says the three cases against him are politically

00:28motivated.

00:29I heard in the media that they say that I want to get rid of the trial, have you heard

00:38of it?

00:39I want to get rid of it.

00:40What a shame.

00:41I have been waiting for this day for eight years.

00:42I have been waiting for eight years to present the truth.

00:50The corruption case has long divided Israel and both supporters and critics gathered outside

00:55of the courthouse.

00:57We are here to support the rule of law, to oppose the fact that we have a prime minister

01:06who has been accused of crimes and war crimes.

01:11He is the leader at the highest levels.

01:14He won over Hamas, won over ISIS, won over the Syrians and also won over the court.

01:22It is the first time an Israeli prime minister appears in court as a criminal defendant.

01:27The trial had been postponed several times already, first because of the COVID-19 pandemic

01:32and more recently because of Israel's war in Gaza.