Defense in Netanyahu trial opposes expansion of trial hearing days, Netanyahu in courtroom

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's defense team plans to contest a court decision to expand his criminal trial to five hearing days each week. The Jerusalem District Court had ruled that proceedings would resume five days a week starting October 4, after the High Holy Days.

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If the court wants to shorten this trial, the solution cannot be to stifle us - this is a shortcut that is actually long.

Netanyahu's lead attorney, Amit Hadad, argued that the expanded schedule is unrealistic and would force his team to work around the clock. He stated that this would actually slow down the trial, as insufficient time would be available for proper witness preparation. Hadad compared the situation to the Eichmann trial, noting it was the only other trial held five days a week.

Attorneys for other defendants echoed these concerns. Jacques Chen, representing Shaul and Iris Elovich in Case 4000, called the five-day schedule "inhumane" and "unrealistic," arguing it violates due process rights and would place an immense burden on defendants and witnesses. Chen suggested this approach would not effectively speed up the trial.

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Five days is inhumane, unrealistic and mismatched to any human capabilities within these time constraints.

Furthermore, Hadad specifically targeted the bribery charge in Case 4000, the most serious accusation against Netanyahu. He urged the judges to dismiss this charge, stating that its complexity would necessitate presenting hundreds of witnesses. Both Hadad and Chen projected that they could not provide adequate defense for their clients under the proposed intensive schedule.

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the bribery charge needs to be thrown out the window... Even you [the judges] don't know what to do with it... If the bribery charge stays, we are talking about [presenting] hundreds of witnesses.