BySARAH BEN-NUN

JUNE 23, 2026 14:15

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared again on Tuesday to support his longstanding connection with businessman Arnon Milchan during the ongoing corruption proceedings, which are nearing the end of his personal testimony.

He attended the Tel Aviv District Court for further questioning by his lawyer, Amit Hadad, following the end of the prosecution's cross-examination the previous week.

Re-examination serves as a narrow phase meant to address points raised in cross-examination without reopening the full record. Throughout the session the judges rejected several of Hadad's queries because Netanyahu had already addressed them earlier.

Hadad concentrated on Case 1000, known as the gifts affair, where Netanyahu faces charges of fraud and breach of trust. The indictment claims he accepted costly presents such as cigars and champagne valued at hundreds of thousands of shekels from Milchan and Australian businessman James Packer while handling issues tied to Milchan's interests.

Netanyahu maintains it was a genuine friendship

The defense has insisted the relationship rested on authentic friendship rather than an improper exchange between an official and a benefactor.

To strengthen that claim, Hadad presented photographs from social and family events with Milchan that occurred before Netanyahu's return to national politics. Netanyahu called the images proof of close ties between the families, even during times when he believed his political career had ended.

"They eulogized me at the time and saw me as a political corpse," Netanyahu said of the period after his first term. "And I saw myself that way too."

Hadad used the photographs to challenge the prosecution's claim that Netanyahu always anticipated a political comeback and that Milchan's access stayed valuable even during his time out of office.

The judges also reviewed Hadad's efforts to revisit questions about Milchan's alleged access during meetings and matters involving Milchan's US visa. Prosecutors objected that Netanyahu had already given clear answers, and the bench largely agreed.

At one point Hadad argued that the court was blocking the defense from correcting a misleading impression left during cross-examination.

Presiding Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman replied that Netanyahu had answered the questions and that the defense's objections were already noted in the record.

Netanyahu then moved beyond a question about the merger of television networks Keshet and Reshet to launch a wider critique of the investigation.

Netanyahu: 'I dedicate my life to the State of Israel'

"I dedicate my life to the State of Israel," Netanyahu said. He added that when questioned by police about a decade ago he had trusted and defended the legal system, yet never expected investigators to "brazenly lie to a prime minister."

Netanyahu accused investigators of trying to build a "fictitious reality" aimed at removing him from office. The judges repeatedly guided him back to the specific question at hand.

Likud MK Tally Gotliv and Otzma Yehudit MK Almog Cohen attended part of the hearing.

The session occurred while Netanyahu also manages an internal Likud dispute over the party's next Knesset list. Reports indicate that while Likud primaries are set to proceed, Netanyahu aims to reserve several spots on the slate for candidates of his choice.

Once Hadad finishes the re-examination in Cases 1000 and 4000, Netanyahu's testimony is expected to end, although the broader trial will continue with the remaining defense evidence.