Netanyahu's Defense Opposes Expanding Testimony to Five Days Weekly Citing Trial Length and Preparation Issues

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared at the Jerusalem District Court on Monday for a hearing concerning his defense team's objection to increasing his testimony days to five per week and the presentation of defense witnesses. Netanyahu's attorney, Amit Hadad, argued that holding four or more days of hearings weekly is unfeasible, citing legal work-hour restrictions and the need for adequate preparation time. Hadad warned that forcing such a schedule would paradoxically prolong the trial, hinder witness preparation, and potentially lead to a miscarriage of justice, even threatening to resign from the defense due to these constraints. He estimated there is no chance the trial would conclude before March or September 2028, describing the case as enormous and criticizing the prosecution for focusing on irrelevant details.

Hadad contrasted this case with others like the Eichmann and bankers' trials, which involved five-day weeks but noted those were different circumstances involving state actors, not private individuals. He emphasized the personal toll on Netanyahu, stating he raised a "red flag" to the prime minister about the lack of a real defense and the risk of injustice. Another defense lawyer, Jacques Chen, representing other defendants, also opposed the five-day schedule, calling it inhumane and economically unviable given the complexity and volume of evidence.

Netanyahu, who was not required to attend but spoke during the hearing, relayed Hadad's concerns, saying his defense team could not provide adequate preparation under such conditions and that some lawyers threatened to resign. He criticized the prosecution's selection of 315 hostile news articles from thousands and condemned the use of Pegasus spyware against him as a grave abuse aimed at his political downfall. Netanyahu described the trial as a "demonic" attack threatening Israeli democracy and accused law enforcement of serious misconduct.

Following Netanyahu's remarks, the prosecution, represented by attorney Yehudit Tirosh, protested what she called an inappropriate use of the hearing platform for political attacks and personal insults against public officials. She rejected claims of political persecution, stating the prosecution acts on evidence and that the case's scope reflects the defendants' alleged actions. Last week, Netanyahu concluded his testimony in Case 4000, ending a year-and-a-half-long defense cross-examination. He characterized the trial as "vile, false, and malicious," asserting the investigations aim not only to violate individual rights but to prevent the public from electing him as leader.