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Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu launched a tirade against the nation’s justice system as he arrived at court for the start of his corruption trial on Sunday, accusing police and prosecutors of conspiring to “depose” him.
Mr Netanyahu’s comments opened what is sure to be a tumultuous period for Israel as he becomes the country’s first sitting prime minister ever to go on trial.
Mr Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes in a series of corruption cases stemming from ties to wealthy friends.
He is accused of accepting lavish gifts and offering to grant favours to powerful media moguls in exchange for favourable coverage of him and his family.
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He denies the charges.
Mr Netanyahu entered the Jerusalem courtroom wearing a blue surgical mask, in line with public health restriction due to the coronavirus pandemic. He stood and talked to his lawyer and lawyers for other defendants, refusing to sit until TV cameras left the room.
As the proceedings began, the lawyers and judges also wore masks, with the three-judge panel sitting behind a glass divider.
His lawyers said they would need two to three months to respond to the arraignment, and said they needed additional funds to add to their defence’s legal team.
Mr Netanyahu sat silently and did not speak during the one-hour session, rising just once, briefly, to confirm that he understood the charges.
He will not be required to attend future hearings during a case that legal analysts expect to stretch over several years.
Throughout the proceedings, the loud chants of his supporters could be heard in the courtroom.
Deep state
When he arrived at the courthouse, Mr Netanyahu revived his claims that he is the victim of a deep state-type conspiracy by media, police, prosecutors and judges out to oust him.
“The objective is to depose a strong, right-wing prime minister, and thus remove the nationalist camp from the leadership of the country for many years,” he said.
He said police and prosecutors had conspired to “tailor” a case against him, and said the evidence was “contaminated” and exaggerated. He called for the court proceedings to be broadcast live on TV to ensure “full transparency”.
“While the media continues to deal with nonsense, with these false, trumped-up cases, I will continue to lead the state of Israel and deal with issues that really matter to you,” he said, including to resuscitate the economy and “continue to save the lives of thousands of Israelis ahead of the possibility of a second wave of coronavirus”.
Critics have said that Mr Netanyahu’s “deep state” arguments have undermined Israel’s court system and risk deeper damage to the country’s democratic institutions.
‘Without bias’
Avi Nissenkorn, the country’s new justice minister, defended the legal system just before Mr Netanyahu arrived in court.
Israel “is blessed with a quality justice system without bias,” Mr Nissenkorn wrote on Twitter. “I have no doubt that the judicial process will be managed in a matter-of-fact and fair fashion.”
Mr Netanyahu was forced to attend Sunday’s hearing at the Jerusalem district court, after his request to have his lawyers represent him instead was rejected.
The dramatic scene came just days after the long-serving leader swore in his new government, breaking more than a year of political stalemate following three inconclusive elections.
Mr Netanyahu held his first cabinet meeting with the new government just hours before heading to court.
Neither he nor any of his ministers addressed the looming trial but the country’s outgoing religious affairs minister wished Mr Netanyahu that “God will bring the truth out” at his trial.
Mr Netanyahu and his allies have spent months lashing out the country’s law enforcement system, and the charges against him have deeply divided the nation.
Protests
Ahead of the trial, two sets of protests and counter-protests gathered outside the courthouse and the prime minister’s official residence in Jerusalem.
Several of Mr Netanyahu's Likud cabinet ministers, including the newly appointed internal security minister who oversees the police, came to the court to back him.
Mr Netanyahu’s court appearance on Sunday caps a three-year investigation.
It also comes after more than a year of political turmoil, with three inconclusive elections finally ending last month when the Israeli leader and his main rival, former army chief Benny Gantz, came to a power-sharing deal.
As part of their power-sharing deal, Netanyahu will remain prime minister for the next 18 months, and alternative prime minister for the 18 months after, and will not be legally required to step down during what is expected to be a lengthy trial.
In a tweet, Mr Gantz said he was sure Mr Netanyahu will receive a fair trial.
“I repeat and emphasise that my colleagues and I have full faith in the justice system and law enforcement,” he said. –