Netanyahu spars with judge on 10th day of testimony; PM’s lawyer says 24 more sessions needed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is giving testimony for the 10th day in his corruption trial in the Tel Aviv District Court.

Netanyahu’s defense attorney Amit Hadad says he will need another 24 hearings to complete his primary questioning of Netanyahu.

Hadad gives his estimate after judges told him to spend less time discussing the 315 alleged examples of interference by Netanyahu and his associates in the media coverage of the prime minister’s affairs by the Walla news website.

The examples form a key component of the allegations against Netanyahu that he had an illicit quid pro quo agreement with Walla owner Shaul Elovitch.

Hadad has, however, succeeded in raising heavy doubt over the accuracy and relevance of numerous examples so far, although he has covered only just over 60 examples to date.

Netanyahu’s defense team has said it will spend less time on the examples if the prosecution removes from the indictment the ones that appear to be unconnected to the prime minister’s actions, but the State Attorney’s Office has refused.

Hadad tells the court that he needs 12 to 14 more hearings to cover Case 4000, which relates to the allegations of the illegal relationship between Netanyahu and Elovitch, including a bribery charge, and a further 10 hearings for Cases 1000 and 2000, in which Netanyahu is charged with fraud and breach of trust.

“We’ve had nine hearings, we have listened with great patience.

Our feeling is that there needs to be a change,” says Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman, according to Channel 12.

“Questions can also be asked about multiple examples together,” she adds.

Netanyahu stands up and begins to speak, but Friedman-Feldman shuts him down, telling him:

“Sir, you cannot say anything, we’re in a discussion with the lawyers, not with you.”

He tries again and Friedman-Feldman interrupts him again, saying, “Mr. Netanyahu, you are requested to sit,” to which the prime minister responds: “I am astonished.”

Netanyahu does eventually manage to voice his opinion on the issue and insists it is his right to address every example brought in the indictment.

“This bribery I am accused of is 315 bricks which are the basis of the bribery,” says the prime minister in court.

“This is what they have harassed me and an entire country with for years.

It is my right to self-defense, to give a true testimony, to ask me the toughest questions.

The prosecution refuses to remove clauses from the indictment and therefore I insist on my right to answer every single clause and smash every single brick.”