Israel's Jerusalem District Court rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to delay his testimony, ordering the hearing to proceed as scheduled. The defense had sought a shortened session citing a security matter detailed in a confidential filing, but the judges ruled there was no sufficient justification to alter the timetable.

Netanyahu recently returned to the witness stand after a two month pause due to regional security developments. Cross examination resumed in the most serious case against him, which includes a bribery charge tied to allegations that he advanced regulatory decisions benefiting a telecommunications company in exchange for favorable media coverage. Netanyahu denies that any improper meeting or arrangement took place and has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The courtroom proceedings coincide with preliminary outreach from President Isaac Herzog's office to explore the possibility of a plea agreement between the defense and prosecution. The initiative is intended to determine whether understandings can be reached before the president considers Netanyahu's pending pardon request. Netanyahu's trial, which began in 2020, remains in the defense stage with the prime minister testifying as a defendant in three separate cases involving allegations of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery.