Minister Ze'ev Elkin Testifies in Netanyahu's Case 2000 as PM Attends Court

Ze'ev Elkin, Minister in the Finance Ministry representing the New Hope party, testified on Wednesday in the Jerusalem District Court regarding the promotion of the Israel Hayom law as part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Case 2000 trial. Netanyahu himself attended the hearing, marking a rare appearance after skipping the testimonies of more than 20 other witnesses in the trial.

During Elkin's testimony, prosecutor Alon Gildin accused him of being closely aligned with Netanyahu, stating that Elkin is a minister in Netanyahu's government, a member of his party, and personally close to him. Gildin questioned the timing of Elkin's testimony, suggesting it was influenced by Elkin's political career and recent events such as party primaries and committee work. Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Hadad, objected strongly to these remarks, calling them inappropriate and refusing to allow the prosecutor to substitute for the witness.

Separately, the court permitted the publication that a witness referred to as "the close associate" of Nir Hefetz, Netanyahu's former senior advisor and a state witness in Case 4000, testified for the first time this week. This session was held behind closed doors and focused mainly on the investigation procedures related to her. Due to a publication ban, no further details were disclosed by the judges.

The developments highlight ongoing legal proceedings against Netanyahu, with key testimonies and courtroom dynamics unfolding amid political sensitivities and media restrictions.