The Israeli prime minister says his appearance in court jeopardises his country’s national security at a critical time.
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00:00Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in court taking the stand more than
00:06four years after his trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust began.
00:13Netanyahu is accused of granting regulatory favors in exchange for positive press coverage
00:18as well as receiving gifts in return for political favors.
00:22The Prime Minister maintains his innocence and says the three cases against him are politically
00:28motivated.
00:29I heard in the media that they say that I want to get rid of the trial, have you heard
00:38of it?
00:39I want to get rid of it.
00:40What a shame.
00:41I have been waiting for this day for eight years.
00:42I have been waiting for eight years to present the truth.
00:50The corruption case has long divided Israel and both supporters and critics gathered outside
00:55of the courthouse.
00:57We are here to support the rule of law, to oppose the fact that we have a prime minister
01:06who has been accused of crimes and war crimes.
01:11He is the leader at the highest levels.
01:14He won over Hamas, won over ISIS, won over the Syrians and also won over the court.
01:22It is the first time an Israeli prime minister appears in court as a criminal defendant.
01:27The trial had been postponed several times already, first because of the COVID-19 pandemic
01:32and more recently because of Israel's war in Gaza.