Netanyahu asks court to pause corruption trial for 'missile attack drill', bamboozling officials

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opened his testimony on Tuesday at the Tel Aviv District Court, which is hearing one of the corruption cases against him, by asking the judges to pause the session so he could participate in a "major security drill", the latest delay in the hearings.

Standing at the start of the hearing, Netanyahu told the judges he would join the drill by phone and video link, alleging there had been no similar exercise of this kind in the past 15 years.

"A very large exercise is being held today to deploy field hospitals in the north to deal with a wide-scale missile attack. The last drill of this kind took place 15 years ago," he said.

Netanyahu said a major security drill was underway, despite there being no prior announcement from the Israeli military, while hospitals in the north said they had no knowledge of the exercises.

Monday’s session was also cancelled due to a government meeting, with the previous week’s hearing halted after an hour because of a visit by the speaker of Paraguay's parliament, Raúl Latorre.

Walla news site noted that although Netanyahu had said he was able to manage the trial alongside his duties as prime minister, he had repeatedly sought to cancel or shorten testimony days since the trial began, citing official commitments.

Evading accountability

Netanyahu is standing trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three corruption cases known as Cases 1000, 2000 and 4000.

Prosecutors say Netanyahu abused his public office by granting regulatory and political favours to wealthy businessmen in exchange for luxury gifts and favourable media coverage. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Netanyahu was indicted in 2019, becoming the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face criminal charges. His trial formally began in 2020 and remains ongoing.

Case 1000, known as the gifts affair, centres on allegations that Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, received hundreds of thousands of shekels worth of cigars, champagne and jewellery from businessmen Arnon Milchan and James Packer. Prosecutors say Netanyahu intervened on Milchan's behalf on tax and visa matters in return.

Case 2000 focuses on recorded conversations between Netanyahu and Arnon Mozes, publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth, in which Netanyahu allegedly discussed curbing the rival Israel Hayom newspaper in exchange for more favourable coverage. He is charged with fraud and breach of trust in the case.

Case 4000, widely seen as the most serious, involves claims that Netanyahu approved regulatory benefits worth around 1.8 billion shekels ($561 million) for telecoms group Bezeq, while also serving as communications minister. In return, prosecutors say he sought to influence coverage on Bezeq-owned Walla, forming the basis for bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges.

The trial has been repeatedly delayed, often citing security and diplomatic reasons, and has unfolded alongside Israel's wars on Gaza and Lebanon and deep domestic political divisions.

In late 2025, Netanyahu formally requested a pardon from Isaac Herzog, arguing the proceedings were "politically motivated". Many believe he is using his office and the ongoing Gaza war to shield himself from legal accountability.