Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s criminal trial entered its new five-day-a-week schedule on Sunday, as the Jerusalem District Court seeks to accelerate the six-year-old case before the presiding judge retires.
The court ordered hearings from Sunday through Thursday, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., despite objections from both the prosecution and the defense. It also instructed the defense teams to prepare replacement witnesses to prevent hearings from being canceled.
Presiding judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman is expected to retire in March 2028, when she turns 70. The expanded schedule is intended to move the trial through the remaining evidence while leaving the panel time to hear closing arguments and write its verdict.
Former Labor MK Eitan Cabel took the stand Sunday to testify about Case 2000, which concerns recorded conversations between Netanyahu and Yediot Aharonot publisher Arnon “Noni” Mozes.
Prosecutors allege that Netanyahu and Mozes discussed a possible arrangement under which Netanyahu would receive more favorable coverage in exchange for steps that could weaken Yediot’s principal rival, Israel Hayom. Netanyahu is charged in the case with fraud and breach of trust, while Mozes is charged with offering and promising a bribe. Both deny wrongdoing.
Former Labor MK Eitan Cabel testifies in Case 2000
Cabel led legislation that would have restricted the free distribution of Israel Hayom. He was questioned under caution during the Case 2000 investigation, but the case against him was later closed without charges. His testimony had previously been postponed because he was serving in the IDF reserves.
The trial is now in the defense stage. Netanyahu, its first witness, completed his testimony in June after 98 hearings spanning roughly a year and a half. The court is now hearing other witnesses called on his behalf.
Mandelblit set to testify weeks before October 27 election
Former attorney-general Avichai Mandelblit, who approved the investigations and later decided to indict Netanyahu, is scheduled to testify on October 11-12 and October 18-22, during the final weeks before the October 27 election.
The court last week declined at this stage to postpone Mandelblit’s testimony until November or December. It left open the possibility of reconsidering if the defense can provide other witnesses for those dates.
Once Netanyahu’s witnesses have finished, his three co-defendants will be able to present their cases. The parties will then submit closing arguments before the judges deliver a verdict. No date has been set for a decision.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.