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Trial of Benjamin Netanyahu
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<p>The trial of Benjamin Netanyahu (<a href="/facts/Hebrew/hqKCSy9d">Hebrew</a>: משפט נתניהו) also known as the Netanyahu-Elovitch-Mozes Trial or the Publisher's Trial, began following investigations into allegations of <a href="/facts/Bribery/wacTVqVz">bribery</a>, <a href="/facts/Fraud/VyU68aBy">fraud</a>, and breach of trust by him and close political allies within his inner circle during his fourth and fifth terms as Israel's prime minister. The cases centers on Netanyahu's relationships with Israeli businessman <a href="/facts/Arnon_Milchan/ALTbVHb9">Arnon Milchan</a>, <a href="/facts/Yedioth_Ahronoth/JyfFUG4p">Yedioth Ahronoth</a> publisher <a href="/facts/Arnon_Mozes/QpslMhHo">Arnon Mozes</a>, and <a href="/facts/Bezeq/MaSPuM6s">Bezeq</a> controlling shareholder <a href="/facts/Shaul_Elovitch/5Gsgd55w">Shaul Elovitch</a>. </p><p>The <a href="/facts/Israel_Police/uLIJ0KDo">Israel Police</a> began investigating Netanyahu in December 2016 and subsequently recommended <a href="/facts/Indictment/ochlu0HA">indictments</a> against him. The trial is led by a panel of three <a href="/facts/Jerusalem_District_Court/b6mo5ynj">Jerusalem District Court</a> judges <a href="/facts/Rivka_Friedman-Feldman/s49h0B92">Rivka Friedman-Feldman</a>, <a href="/facts/Moshe_Bar-Am/dT6Dex8K">Moshe Bar-Am</a>, and <a href="/facts/Oded_Shaham/b2rV0RdP">Oded Shaham</a>. Friedman-Feldman previously served on the judicial panel that convicted former Prime Minister <a href="/facts/Ehud_Olmert/skIkQc7h">Ehud Olmert</a> of bribery, resulting in a six-year prison sentence. </p><p>On 21 November 2019, Netanyahu was officially indicted for breach of trust, accepting bribes, and fraud, leading him to legally relinquish his ministry portfolios other than prime minister. Netanyahu's trial in the Jerusalem District Court began on 24 May 2020, with witness testimony starting on 5 April 2021. The prosecution listed 333 witnesses. The prosecution rested in July 2024, and defense, starting with Netanyahu's testimony, began in December 2024. </p>