Benjamin Netanyahu has commenceed giving evidence in his fraudulence trial, calling the case “absurd” and saying he antipathys champagne in response to claims he huged gifts of liquor and cigars.
The Israeli prime minister telderly a fortified, underground court in Tel Aviv he would refute the allegations and called them a “drop in the sea” appraised with geting his country.
Mr Netanyahu shelp he had paemployed “eight years for this moment” and vowed to “poke holes in the absurd accusations”.
The 75-year-elderly denies accuses of fraud, huging bribes and baccomplish of suppose in three split cases, coloring them as a witch-hunt summarizeed to end his lengthy rule.
He’s accemployd of granting profitous regulation to two media companies in trade for favourable coverage of himself and his wife.
Tens of thousands of dollars of cigars and champagne were also allegedly among gifts he wrongbrimmingy getd from Hollywood creater Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer.
However, the prime minister telderly the court he antipathyd champagne – inserting that he smoked cigars but could exceptionally finish them becaemploy of his toilload.
Mr Netanyahu is set to testify for about six hours a day, three days a week for disjoinal weeks.
Critics have asked how he will be able to run the country, get on top of the war in Gaza and other regional strife – but he telderly the court he could deal with it all.
Mr Netanyahu was passed remarks during Tuesday’s persistings after his lawyer asked for perleave oution for this to be able to happen thrawout his trial so he could get up with state business.
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A court previously denied seeks to postpone the commence of the trial and to restrict his hours on the stand.
The prime minister was first indicted in 2019 but the verdict is not foreseeed until 2026 at best.
Mr Netanyahu will be able to request to the supreme court, so the case could drag on even lengthyer.
Israel‘s lengthyest-serving guideer is also under an arrest permit from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Gaza – claims he denies.
