Netanyahu appears at Tel Aviv court for 87th corruption hearing

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared at Tel Aviv District Court on Wednesday for the 87th hearing in his ongoing corruption trial, attending proceedings focused on the so-called Case 2000 while continuing to deny allegations of bribery and breach of trust.

Case 2000 proceedings

According to Israeli public broadcaster KAN, Wednesday's session marked a shift in focus to Case 2000 after previous hearings had concentrated on Cases 1000 and 4000. The three cases collectively accuse Netanyahu of receiving valuable gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors, soliciting favorable coverage from a newspaper publisher, and granting regulatory benefits to a telecommunications executive in return for positive news website coverage.

Prosecutors allege that Netanyahu sought to manipulate media coverage to bolster his political standing while advancing the business interests of associates. The charges span corruption, bribery and breach of trust, carrying potential prison sentences if the court returns a conviction.

War crimes warrant

Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and characterized the domestic charges as politically motivated attempts to undermine his leadership. The court appearances come as the Israeli premier also faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued in 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, where Israeli military operations have killed more than 72,000 people and injured over 172,000 others since October 2023.