Tel Aviv: The Jerusalem District Court has postponed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s testimony in his corruption trial this week, granting a defence request over “security and diplomatic” considerations, according to The Times of Israel and The Jerusalem Post.
The court approved Netanyahu’s bid to delay his appearance, allowing another witness to testify in his stead, with a planned Tuesday hearing also scrapped, according to The Times of Israel. Netanyahu’s lawyers contended he could not appear this week due to “security and diplomatic” reasons, a move contested by the State Attorney’s Office, ANI reported.
Witness Switch Approved
On Sunday, Judges Rivka Friedman-Feldman, Moshe Bar-Am, and Oded Shaham of the Jerusalem District Court ruled to proceed with testimony from another defence witness instead, The Jerusalem Post noted. Prosecutors countered that, “absent urgent and immovable security needs, Netanyahu should align his schedule with court proceedings,” underscoring the public interest in expediting the trial and finishing his cross-examination.
The court will now take testimony from Ilanit Filber, spouse of ex-Netanyahu aide and state witness Shlomo Filber. She plays a pivotal role in “Case 4000,” or the Bezeq-Walla affair—the gravest charges against Netanyahu, involving bribery allegations.
Shlomo Filber was director-general of the Communications Ministry under Netanyahu. Prosecutors claim Netanyahu steered regulatory favours for Shaul Elovitch’s Bezeq telecom firm in return for positive Walla news site coverage. Netanyahu rejects the charges, including those tied to a crucial “directive meeting” with Filber.
Testimony Inconsistencies
Shlomo Filber’s 2022 testimony featured inconsistencies and moderated claims, later prompting the State Attorney’s Office to push for voiding his state witness deal, per The Jerusalem Post. Netanyahu’s trial is in the cross-examination stage of his own testimony; he first testified in December 2024, with prosecutors launching cross-examination in June 2025 after extensive defense sessions. Prior to a war-induced pause, focus had centred on “Case 4000,” The Jerusalem Post added.
