A former confidant of Benjamin Netanyahu began testifying against him Monday at the former Israeli prime minister’s corruption trial in Jerusalem.
The testimony of Nir Hefetz, a former Netanyahu spokesman and key witness, is expected to be critical in the trial, which revolves around allegations that Netanyahu committed fraud, breach of trust and accepted bribes. The former prime minister, now leader of the opposition, claims his innocence.
Hefetz left a long career in journalism in 2009 to work as a spokesperson in the Netanyahu government, and in 2014 he became the family’s spokesperson and advisor. In 2018, after being arrested in connection with one of Netanyahu’s corruption cases, Hefetz settled with the state and provided investigators with recordings of conversations between Netanyahu and his family.
His testimony was postponed a week after Netanyahu’s lawyers asked for time to review new evidence. Information released last week claims that Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, had accepted an expensive bracelet as a gift from two wealthy friends, Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian millionaire James Packer.
Netanyahu appeared at the Jerusalem District Court the morning surrounded by colleagues from the Likud party.
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