Netanyahu Seeks To Delay Corruption Trial Testimony Again, Cites 'Classified Security Reasons'

Last Updated:April 11, 2026, 10:19 IST

The trial had been set to resume on Sunday- the first session since Israel lifted a state of emergency imposed during its war with Iran, following ceasefire announcement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked a Jerusalem court to postpone his long-awaited testimony in his corruption trial, citing “classified security and diplomatic reasons" tied to the war with Iran and its fragile ceasefire, his lawyer said in a court filing.

The trial had been set to resume on Sunday- the first session since Israel lifted a state of emergency imposed during its war with Iran, following ceasefire announcement.

The defence had indicated it was prepared to continue hearing testimony from a prosecution witness before Netanyahu was due to take the stand himself.

“Due to classified security and diplomatic reasons connected to the dramatic events that have taken place in the State of Israel and throughout the Middle East in recent times, the Prime Minister will not be able to testify in the proceeding for at least the next two weeks," the filing to the Jerusalem District Court said.

A sealed envelope detailing the classified reasons was delivered separately to the court. The court is expected to rule on the postponement request once the prosecution submits its response.

Netanyahu, the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face criminal charges, has denied allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust that were filed in 2019 following years of investigations. The trial began in 2020 and has been repeatedly delayed due to his official commitments- with no end date in sight and no verdict expected in the near term.

The latest delay request is likely to draw scrutiny as critics have long accused Netanyahu of using the demands of office to slow proceedings that could result in a prison sentence. The war with Iran and its diplomatic aftermath- including ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Islamabad this weekend- provide him with arguably the most credible grounds yet for a postponement.

The trial’s trajectory comes as Netanyahu faces mounting political pressure at home. The Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023, combined with the corruption charges, have steadily eroded his standing in polls. Israel is due to hold a general election in October, which surveys suggest his coalition- the most right-wing in Israeli history- is likely to lose.

News world Netanyahu Seeks To Delay Corruption Trial Testimony Again, Cites 'Classified Security Reasons'

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