Netanyahu asks to shorten, cancel testimony days as judges push to finish Case 2000

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the Jerusalem District Court to shorten his testimony on Tuesday and cancel Wednesday's hearing as his cross-examination in Case 2000 approaches its conclusion. The requests stem from his need to attend several ceremonies and a Knesset vote.

Netanyahu's defense team filed a written request to shorten Tuesday's session due to a 10 a.m. ceremony for the changeover of the prime minister's military secretary and an 11:30 a.m. ceremony for the incoming Mossad chief. The defense proposed that Netanyahu testify between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, before attending a government meeting. They also requested the cancellation of Wednesday's hearing due to an expected Knesset vote on the next state comptroller.

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With respect, they should work around us.

The court showed resistance to Netanyahu's requests to leave proceedings for ceremonial events. Presiding Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman stated, "With respect, they should work around us." While acknowledging security matters, she questioned the necessity of attending ceremonies over court testimony, which had been scheduled in advance.

Netanyahu is currently undergoing cross-examination in Case 2000, a media-corruption trial. Prosecutors allege that he discussed weakening the newspaper Israel Hayom in exchange for more favorable coverage from its competitor, Yediot Aharonot, owned by Arnon "Noni" Mozes, prior to the 2015 election. Both Netanyahu and Mozes deny any wrongdoing.

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When there are security matters, there is no choice. But ceremonies? With all due respect, either they adjust to us, or we continue as planned.