Netanyahu's Trial Postponed Due to Security Reasons
An Israeli court postponed the criminal trial that was due to feature Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu as a witness on Monday (20/4) local time. The postponement of the hearing was based on “security-diplomatic” reasons.
This postponement, as reported by Anadolu Agency on Monday (20/4/2026), was covered by The Jerusalem Post in its report on Sunday (19/4) evening local time.
Judges at the Jerusalem District Court decided on Sunday (19/4) local time to hear other mitigating witnesses, thereby delaying Netanyahu’s return to the witness stand in court.
With this postponement, according to The Jerusalem Post report, the trial session with Netanyahu’s testimony as a witness is unlikely to take place before next week.
The decision to postpone the trial followed a request from the defence team to cancel Netanyahu’s testimony, based on “security-diplomatic” reasons that were not specified but outlined in closed materials submitted to the court and the public prosecutor.
The prosecutors opposed the postponement. They asserted that unless there is an urgent and unavoidable security need, Netanyahu must adjust his schedule to the court’s calendar and emphasised the public interest in advancing the trial, particularly in completing the cross-examination in the hearing.
This case is still in the cross-examination phase for Netanyahu’s testimony.
The Israeli PM first gave testimony in December 2024, and prosecutors began cross-examining him in June 2025 after 36 sessions led by the defence.
The trial in this case largely focuses on Case 4000, which centres on allegations of granting special treatment in regulations in exchange for favourable media coverage. Netanyahu has denied the allegations.
Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three cases known as Case 1000, Case 2000, and Case 4000. Israeli prosecutors filed the indictments for these cases in November 2019.
Case 4000 involves allegations that Netanyahu approved regulatory decisions benefiting Shaul Elovitch, former owner of the Walla news site and former executive at telecommunications company Bezeq, in exchange for positive coverage.
In addition to the corruption trial, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant in November 2024 against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.
Israel has been involved in conflicts on various fronts in recent years, including against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and against Iran.