Sanaa: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in the Jerusalem District Court as his long-standing corruption trial recommenced. According to Anadolu Agency, the proceedings on Wednesday featured testimony from Minister Ze'ev Elkin, a key figure in the indictment related to Case 2000. This case involves charges of fraud and breach of trust against Netanyahu, as reported by the Israeli daily Maariv.

The trial, which has been ongoing since 2020, is set to continue through July 20 before the court's summer recess. Hearings will resume in early September, with a schedule of five days a week after the court's October holidays. These legal proceedings coincide with the upcoming general elections in Israel on October 27, where Netanyahu is seeking another term as prime minister.

Netanyahu is facing multiple charges, including bribery, fraud, and breach of trust across three separate cases known as Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000. The indictments, filed by then-Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in November 2019, detail various allegations. Case 1000 involves accusations of receiving expensive gifts from businesspeople in return for political favors. Case 2000 pertains to negotiations with Arnon Mozes, publisher of the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, for favorable media coverage. Case 4000 alleges that Netanyahu provided regulatory benefits to former Bezeq owner Shaul Elovitch in exchange for positive reporting on the local news website Walla.

Netanyahu has consistently denied any wrongdoing, labeling the charges as a 'politically motivated campaign' aimed at ousting him from office. In a separate development, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu on November 21, 2024, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, where a severe offensive since October 2023 has resulted in over 73,000 deaths.