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<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (Dec. 10)&nbsp;took the stand in the corruption trial against him, calling the allegations "simply ridiculous."</p>

<p>The trial involves three separate cases in which prosecutors said that Netanyahu&nbsp; exchanged&nbsp;regulatory favours with media titans for favourable press coverage and advanced the personal interests of a billionaire Hollywood producer in exchange for lavish gifts.</p>

<h2><strong>Netanyahu responds to allegations</strong></h2>

<p>As per a report by The Times of Israel on Tuesday, Netanyahu responded to the allegations that he demanded&nbsp;champagne and cigars and exploited his position to receive thousands of shekels in benefits.</p>

<p>“This is a total lie. I work 17-18 hours a day. Everyone who knows me knows this,” Netanyahu said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-calls-icc-arrest-warrant-antisemitic-warns-of-severe-consequences-778160">Netanyahu calls ICC arrest warrant 'antisemitic,' warns of 'severe consequences'</a></strong></p>

<p>“That’s how I work. I eat my meals at my work table, it’s not cordon bleu, it’s not waiters coming with white gloves,” he added.</p>

<p>The Israeli prime minister also pointed out that he worked around the clock. "...sometimes I sit with a cigar, and I can’t smoke it all at once because I smoke them between meetings,” Netanyahu said, adding, that he hated champagne.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Toward the end of Netanyahu’s testimony today in his corruption trial, the premier described what he viewed as hostile coverage he received a decade ago from the Walla news site.</p>

<p>He contends that Walla at the time was extraordinarily adversarial toward him, and that this did not improve over the next period of time.</p>

<h2><strong>Netanyahu first sitting Israeli PM to face trial</strong></h2>

<p>Benjamin Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face a criminal trial.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Several people, including anti-Netanyahu protesters and his supporters, gathered outside the court, while some right-wing lawmakers attended the session, which was held in an underground chamber for security reasons, a report by the news agency AFP said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch | Ex-Shin Bet chief accuses Netanyahu of spying</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ex-shin-bet-chief-accuses-netanyahu-of-spying-782295/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The corruption trial, which began in 2020, is scheduled to last for several months, with an appeals process that could further prolong matters.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (Dec. 10) took the stand in the corruption trial against him, calling the allegations "simply ridiculous." The trial involves three separate cases in which prosecutors said that Netanyahu exchanged regulatory favours with media titans for favourable press coverage and advanced the personal interests of a billionaire Hollywood producer in exchange for lavish gifts.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday (Dec. 10) took the stand in the corruption trial against him, calling the allegations "simply ridiculous." The trial involves three separate cases in which prosecutors said that Netanyahu exchanged regulatory favours with media titans for favourable press coverage and advanced the personal interests of a billionaire Hollywood producer in exchange for lavish gifts. Netanyahu responds to allegations As per a report by The Times of Israel on Tuesday, Netanyahu responded to the allegations that he demanded champagne and cigars and exploited his position to receive thousands of shekels in benefits. “This is a total lie. I work 17-18 hours a day. Everyone who knows me knows this,” Netanyahu said. Also read | Netanyahu calls ICC arrest warrant 'antisemitic,' warns of 'severe consequences' “That’s how I work. I eat my meals at my work table, it’s not cordon bleu, it’s not waiters coming with white gloves,” he added. The Israeli prime minister also pointed out that he worked around the clock. "...sometimes I sit with a cigar, and I can’t smoke it all at once because I smoke them between meetings,” Netanyahu said, adding, that he hated champagne. Toward the end of Netanyahu’s testimony today in his corruption trial, the premier described what he viewed as hostile coverage he received a decade ago from the Walla news site. He contends that Walla at the time was extraordinarily adversarial toward him, and that this did not improve over the next period of time. Netanyahu first sitting Israeli PM to face trial Benjamin Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face a criminal trial. Several people, including anti-Netanyahu protesters and his supporters, gathered outside the court, while some right-wing lawmakers attended the session, which was held in an underground chamber for security reasons, a report by the news agency AFP said. Also watch | Ex-Shin Bet chief accuses Netanyahu of spying The corruption trial, which began in 2020, is scheduled to last for several months, with an appeals process that could further prolong matters. (With inputs from agencies)

Netanyahu corruption trial: Israeli PM calls allegations 'simply ridiculous'

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<p>Two flash bombs were fired towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home in Caesarea on Saturday (Nov 16). Citing the police, a report by the news agency Reuters on Sunday said that the bombs fell in&nbsp;the garden.</p>

<p>The police said that neither Prime Minister Netanyahu nor his family were present (at the house) and no damage was reported. The police added that an investigation was launched.</p>

<p>A report by the Times of Israel said that the police arrested three people in connection with the incident. A&nbsp;court ordered a gag on publishing any details of the investigation or the suspects' identities for 30 days.</p>

<h2><strong>Top Israeli leaders condemn incident</strong></h2>

<p>In a post on the social media platform X, Defence Minister Israel Katz said that firing bombs into Netanyahu's home meant crossing all red lines.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-hostage-calls-for-pressure-on-netanyahu-govt-video-shared-by-hamas-ally-shows-775845">Israeli hostage calls for pressure on Netanyahu government in video shared by Hamas ally</a></strong></p>

<p>"It is not possible for the Prime Minister of Israel, who is threatened by Iran and its proxies who are trying to assassinate him, to be subject to the same threats from home," Defence Minister Katz said.</p>

<p>"The Shin Bet and the Israel Police and all law enforcement and judicial agencies must immediately and with all the strength take the necessary steps to put an end to this serious phenomenon and bring about this situation to end," he added.</p>

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<p dir="rtl" lang="iw">ירי פצצות התאורה על בית ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו היא חציית כל הקווים האדומים.<br />
לא ייתכן מצב בו ראש ממשלת ישראל, שמאויים ע"י איראן ושלוחיה שמנסים להתנקש בחייו, יהיה נתון לאיומים זהים מבית. על השב"כ ומשטרת ישראל וכל גורמי האכיפה והמשפט לנקוט באופן מיידי ובכל העוצמה בצעדים הנדרשים…</p>
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Israel_katz/status/1857944400585715817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the incident and said that a probe was underway.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Security Minister&nbsp;Itamar Ben-Gvir said, "The incitement against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu crosses all boundaries. Throwing a flash bomb into his house tonight is crossing another red line."</p>

<h2><strong>Not the first time Netanyahu's home was targeted</strong></h2>

<p>This is not the first time that Benjamin Netanyahu's home in Caesarea was targeted. Last month, a drone was launched towards the prime minister's house without causing any harm.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch | Israel's mixed signals over Lebanon truce</strong></p>

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<p>Netanyahu at the time accused the Iran-aligned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of attempting to assassinate him and his wife. Israel and&nbsp;Hezbollah have exchanged fire for over a year in parallel with the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Caesarea is about 20 kilometres&nbsp;south of the Haifa city area, which Hezbollah has regularly targeted since the conflict began.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Two flash bombs were fired towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home in Caesarea on Saturday (Nov 16). Citing the police, a report by the news agency Reuters on Sunday said that the bombs fell in the garden.

Two flash bombs were fired towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's home in Caesarea on Saturday (Nov 16). Citing the police, a report by the news agency Reuters on Sunday said that the bombs fell in the garden. The police said that neither Prime Minister Netanyahu nor his family were present (at the house) and no damage was reported. The police added that an investigation was launched. A report by the Times of Israel said that the police arrested three people in connection with the incident. A court ordered a gag on publishing any details of the investigation or the suspects' identities for 30 days. Top Israeli leaders condemn incident In a post on the social media platform X, Defence Minister Israel Katz said that firing bombs into Netanyahu's home meant crossing all red lines. Also read | Israeli hostage calls for pressure on Netanyahu government in video shared by Hamas ally "It is not possible for the Prime Minister of Israel, who is threatened by Iran and its proxies who are trying to assassinate him, to be subject to the same threats from home," Defence Minister Katz said. "The Shin Bet and the Israel Police and all law enforcement and judicial agencies must immediately and with all the strength take the necessary steps to put an end to this serious phenomenon and bring about this situation to end," he added. ירי פצצות התאורה על בית ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו היא חציית כל הקווים האדומים. לא ייתכן מצב בו ראש ממשלת ישראל, שמאויים ע"י איראן ושלוחיה שמנסים להתנקש בחייו, יהיה נתון לאיומים זהים מבית. על השב"כ ומשטרת ישראל וכל גורמי האכיפה והמשפט לנקוט באופן מיידי ובכל העוצמה בצעדים הנדרשים… — ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) November 17, 2024 × Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the incident and said that a probe was underway. Meanwhile, Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said, "The incitement against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu crosses all boundaries. Throwing a flash bomb into his house tonight is crossing another red line." Not the first time Netanyahu's home was targeted This is not the first time that Benjamin Netanyahu's home in Caesarea was targeted. Last month, a drone was launched towards the prime minister's house without causing any harm. Also watch | Israel's mixed signals over Lebanon truce × Netanyahu at the time accused the Iran-aligned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of attempting to assassinate him and his wife. Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire for over a year in parallel with the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Caesarea is about 20 kilometres south of the Haifa city area, which Hezbollah has regularly targeted since the conflict began. (With inputs from agencies)

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