Israel’s PM Netanyahu in court to testify in corruption trial

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in court in Tel Aviv on Tuesday to testify for the first time in his corruption case.

Netanyahu had repeatedly sought to delay his appearance in court.

He happens to be the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face a criminal trial.

He is facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust in three separate cases.

At Tuesday’s hearing, the Israeli premier is expected to take the witness stand for the first time, responding to the allegations and testimonies made against him, including from former close aides.

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Several people, including anti-Netanyahu protesters and his supporters, gathered outside the court, while some right-wing lawmakers attended the session, which was held in an underground chamber for security reasons.

Report from outside the court said that the prime minister’s supporters chanted “Netanyahu, the people support you”, while protesters who have been rallying against him for months chanted “Bibi to prison”.

“I will speak in court. I am not running away,” Netanyahu said at a press conference Monday evening.

“It has been eight years that I have waited for this day, eight years of wanting to present the truth, eight years waiting to completely demolish these absurd and baseless accusations against me,” he said, labelling it a “relentless witch hunt.”

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