Israeli court orders Netanyahu to attend trial’s opening

Jerusalem: The Israeli court has ordered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to appear at the first court session of his upcoming corruption trial. The Jerusalem District Court rejected a request filed by Netanyahu’s lawyers this week to exempt him from appearing for the opening hearing. The lawyers argued that Netanyahu’s presence was unnecessary because he had “read this indictment several times already,” and the five bodyguards needed to secure his arrival would cost the public coffers “a fortune.”

The presence of defendants in their opening session is a regular procedure in Israel.

The trial will begin on May 24 at the Jerusalem District Court.

Last Sunday, Israel’s longest-serving leader was sworn in, his rare power-sharing government together with his former rival, Benny Gantz, leader of the centrist Blue and White party, breaking a year and a half of political stalemate following three rounds of inconclusive elections.