Netanyahu's Lawyer Says Trial Won't Conclude Before 2028 Amid Court Schedule Changes

A hearing took place Monday morning at the Jerusalem District Court to discuss accelerating the defense testimonies in the high-profile cases against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who unusually appeared in court. Netanyahu's attorney, Amit Hadad, criticized the judges' decision to hold sessions five days a week, stating the case is enormous and that they would have to work on Saturdays and automatically to keep up. Hadad also expressed skepticism about the trial concluding before March 2028, when the presiding judge, Rivka Friedman-Feldman, is set to retire, suggesting the trial could extend until at least September 2028 and calling the situation a miscarriage of justice.

Last week, the judges, including Friedman-Feldman, Moshe Bar-Am, and Oded Shaham, ruled that starting October 4, 2026, the trial would be held Sunday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with proposals to hold sessions even during court recesses. Netanyahu had requested to appear in court to discuss expediting the trial but was denied, with the court stating no discussion would be held until Monday.

Netanyahu completed his testimony last Wednesday after more than a year and delivered a statement accusing investigators of conducting an exhaustive but fruitless search for wrongdoing. He claimed the investigation targeted him personally and his close circle, causing family harm without uncovering any offenses.