The corruption trial against Netanyahu resumes, adding to the Israeli leader’s challenges

The corruption trial of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed on Monday, bringing back into focus the legal and political challenges he faces even as he directs the Israeli army’s war in Gaza.

Israeli courts stopped hearing non-urgent cases after Hamas launched its surprise attack from Gaza on October 7, but on Friday the country’s Justice Minister Yariv Levin said most normal trials could resume as the suspension had expired .

According to reports in the Israeli news media, Netanyahu did not attend Monday’s hearing, which focused on procedural issues.

He could testify in person as part of the defense’s case in the spring.

Mr Netanyahu has been on trial since 2020, accused of granting political favors to businessmen in exchange for expensive gifts and offering regulatory benefits to media moguls in return for positive reporting. He denies the allegations and has rejected calls to resign.

Last summer, lawmakers from Netanyahu’s right-wing party, Likud, introduced a bill that would have stripped the attorney general — who has been critical of him — of the ability to oversee the prosecution of ministers, including the prime minister. The bill was later withdrawn, but came amid intense protests that had been going on for months over the government’s attempts to assert greater authority over the judiciary.

As the trial resumes, Netanyahu’s standing with the Israeli public has deteriorated. Many Israelis blame his government for the security services’ failure to prevent Hamas’ attack, which Israeli authorities say killed about 1,200 people and took about 240 hostage.