Lead

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded his testimony in his criminal trial on Wednesday, marking the end of 98 hearing days on the witness stand since December 2024, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. His final appearances were part of a limited re-examination stage by the defense, intended to clarify points raised during the prosecution's cross-examination rather than to reopen the evidence.

Coverage Comparison

The Jerusalem Post reported the development in two separate articles. The first, published in the evening, emphasized the completion of Netanyahu's testimony and the procedural timeline, noting that the prosecution's cross-examination ran from June 3 to June 16, 2025, after nearly six months of direct examination. The second, published earlier in the day, focused on the final testimony and the logistical arrangements, mentioning that Netanyahu's testimonies were held at the Tel Aviv District Court location due to security guarantees, while other proceedings take place in the Jerusalem District Court.

Both reports agree on the core facts: Netanyahu was indicted in 2020 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases, numbered 1000, 2000, and 4000. The trial is now set to proceed with the remaining defense witnesses before the evidence phase ends and the parties submit summaries to the three-judge panel.

Key Claims

  • Netanyahu completed his testimony in his criminal trial on Wednesday after 98 hearing days on the witness stand since December 2024.
  • The prosecution's cross-examination began on June 3, 2025, and ended on June 16, after 59 hearing days.
  • The current stage was the limited re-examination by the defense, meant to clarify matters raised during cross-examination.
  • The 2020 indictment contains three separate affairs: Case 1000 (fraud and breach of trust over gifts from businessmen, principally Arnon Milchan), Case 2000 (fraud and breach of trust over recorded conversations with Yediot Aharonot publisher Arnon "Noni" Mozes), and Case 4000 (bribery, fraud, and breach of trust over the Bezeq-Walla affair).
  • The trial will continue with the remaining defense witnesses; after the evidence phase, the parties will submit summaries before the Jerusalem District Court panel issues a verdict.
Throughout his testimony, Netanyahu described his conduct as ordinary, characterizing relationships as friendships and political battles, while the prosecution argued that the events, when viewed together, revealed a pattern of quid pro quo arrangements. The cross-examination tested whether Netanyahu's answers could withstand scrutiny against the evidence of gifts, regulatory decisions, and recorded conversations.