Israeli court begins hearings in Netanyahu case

(Patria) – Israel's Supreme Court began hearings on Sunday in the case against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose mandate to form a government is being challenged due to charges of serious criminal offenses.

The hearing was led by an unusually large panel of 11 judges, and the question of whether a politician can form a government while under indictment, which Israeli law does not explicitly prohibit, was being considered.

As a reminder, Prime Minister Netanyahu faced charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust earlier this year, all of which he has denied, calling the process a rigged attempt to oust him.

The hearing was broadcast live on the court's website; judges, lawyers, and officials were all wearing masks and kept apart by plastic barriers, as Israel, like other countries, is in the midst of the coronavirus epidemic, which has infected more than 16,000 people in the country.

The Israeli portal The Times of Israel writes that the head of the judicial commission, Esther Hayut, insisted that the petitioners present more evidence for their claim that a legislator supported by a parliamentary majority should not lead the government.

“Show us something! Law! Ruling! From the history of this country, or another! Something!” Hayut insisted, stating that the court is being asked to set a “global precedent” and to “rule based on (your) personal opinion.”

If the court decides that Netanyahu cannot remain Prime Minister due to the charges, Israel will have to hold its fourth election in just over a year.

Last week, citizens' protests against Netanyahu's long rule continued, while his supporters protested in front of the court.

The trial of the Israeli Prime Minister, originally scheduled for March 17, was postponed due to a series of emergency measures against the epidemic introduced by Netanyahu himself. The decision to postpone the trial was met with criticism in Israel, and the Prime Minister was accused of abusing the health crisis to avoid the court process.

The trial was rescheduled for the end of May, Euronews reports.