Israel’s PM fights back, calling bribery allegations baseless and denying a crucial prosecution claim

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stand on Monday, vehemently denying claims that he held a key meeting in Case 4000, the high-profile corruption trial accusing him of bribery and fraud. Netanyahu flatly rejected testimony from Shlomo Filber, former director-general of the Communications Ministry, who alleged that the prime minister had personally instructed him to assist media mogul Shaul Elovitch.

According to Filber’s 2022 testimony, Netanyahu had allegedly ordered him to ease telecommunications regulations in favour of Bezeq, the company controlled by Elovitch, as part of a broader bribery scheme. Prosecutors argue that Netanyahu’s government provided regulatory benefits in exchange for favourable media coverage on the Elovitch-owned Walla! News.

However, Netanyahu fired back, insisting that the meeting never happened. Defence lawyer Amit Hadad presented Filber’s own calendar records, arguing that there was no evidence of any such encounter. This direct contradiction strikes at the heart of the prosecution’s case, which hinges on proving that Netanyahu actively intervened to aid Elovitch’s business empire.

Netanyahu’s legal team has long maintained that the bribery accusations are part of a politically motivated witch hunt, aimed at removing him from power. Throughout the trial, Netanyahu has portrayed himself as a victim of judicial overreach, arguing that there is no concrete proof linking him to criminal wrongdoing.

Case 4000 is the most serious of the three corruption cases against the prime minister, carrying potentially severe legal consequences if he is convicted. However, Netanyahu’s dramatic denial could undermine a key pillar of the prosecution’s argument, raising fresh doubts about the credibility of Filber’s testimony.

Despite Netanyahu’s forceful defence, prosecutors remain confident that their case will hold. As the trial continues, the battle over Israel’s most controversial corruption scandal is far from over.