The Times of Israel reports:
On a day of extraordinary political drama Monday, Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial entered the evidentiary stage at the Jerusalem District Court even as across town representatives of Israel’s political parties were meeting with President Reuven Rivlin to tell him whether they recommend Netanyahu remain prime minister after last month’s deadlocked election.
The prime minister faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in Case 4000, and fraud and breach of trust charges in Case 1000 and Case 2000. He denies any wrongdoing, claims the charges are fabricated, and says he is the victim of an attempted political coup. Monday marked the prime minister’s third appearance in court since the indictments were filed against him in January 2020.
Haaretz reports:
Ilan Yeshua, the former CEO of the Walla website, testified that he, Shaul Elovitch and his wife Iris Elovitch felt “like in North Korea,” and used to jokingly call Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol-ju, in reference to North Korea’s leader and his wife.
In answer to how preoccupied he was with requests to provide Netanyahu with biased coverage, Yeshua said “It was very intense. At times it was 30-40 percent and even 50 percent of my time. 70 percent of my interactions with Shaul Elovich were in regards to Netanyahu’s coverage.”
Israeli prosecutors accuse PM Netanyahu of ‘illegitimate use’ of power at opening of corruption trial https://t.co/s6fWTxoMzi pic.twitter.com/Hnuu3i87Wm
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 5, 2021
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is back in court for his corruption trial as the country’s political parties were set to weigh in on whether he should form the next government after a closely divided election or step down. https://t.co/jyMEy32ABg
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 5, 2021
Netanyahu’s favours were ‘currency’, prosecutor says as corruption trial starts https://t.co/4NfRhfBoqt pic.twitter.com/4X0Isu6Fy7
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 5, 2021
Israeli PM Netanyahu made “illegitimate use” of his power and saw favours as “currency”, the prosecutor has alleged at his corruption trial: He sought “improper benefits from owners of major media in Israel in order to advance his personal affairs”https://t.co/VTePkIhy3g
— Alfons López Tena (@alfonslopeztena) April 5, 2021