(28 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tel Aviv, Israel – 28 April 2025
1. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu entering courtroom with his defense attorney Amit Hadad and listening to a right wing journalist saying that the press is not talking about a testimony he gave about Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Beth, UPSOUND (Hebrew):
"We saw yesterday that you presented evidence in your affidavit that proves his act."
Netanyahu, UPSOUND (Hebrew) "It’s possible that they wouldn’t report it?" (answering ironically)
2. Wide of courtroom
STORYLINE:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in court Monday to continue his testimony in his ongoing corruption trial.
Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant.
Netanyahu will answer during his court appearances to charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases.
In March, Netanyahu announced he was firing Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet internal security service, citing a crisis of confidence sparked by the failures to prevent Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.
Netanyahu’s government has also launched a process to dismiss the attorney general, accusing her of obstructing its agenda.
The moves come as the Shin Bet is investigating a possible infiltration of Netanyahu’s office by an Arab country and as Netanyahu is on trial for corruption.
They are setting up a showdown between Netanyahu and the judiciary that is deepening divisions in Israel and could set off upheaval at a time when Israel is bogged down by war.
Tensions between Netanyahu and Bar had been building for months.
Bar, who was appointed to lead the Shin Bet in 2021 by a previous prime minister, accepted responsibility for his agency’s failure to halt the Oct. 7 attack ahead of time.
He already has said he planned to step down before the end of his term in late 2026.
But the Shin Bet investigation into its Oct. 7 failures also pointed blame at Netanyahu for formulating a policy that focused on containing Hamas, while ignoring a growing threat.
When entering court, Netanyahu replied to a right wing journalist —who said that the press didn’t cover his affidavit that proves Ronen Bar’s act— that he wasn’t surprised.
AP video shot by Paz Bar
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