Netanyahu testimony canceled following last minute defense request

• The Jerusalem District Court canceled Netanyahu’s scheduled testimony on Monday.
• Defense attorney Amit Haddad submitted the postponement request during the night.
• The legal proceedings occur amidst ongoing regional conflicts.

The corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced another significant delay on Monday after his defense team successfully petitioned for a postponement hours before he was set to testify.

The Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that the hearing was canceled following an overnight update from attorney Amit Haddad.

The court administration confirmed the cancellation but stated that no additional details regarding the reason for the postponement could be provided at this time.

Persistent delays amid regional conflict

Netanyahu was expected to appear before judges to offer testimony in a trial that has spanned nearly six years. While the Prime Minister has appeared in court 81 times throughout the proceedings -most recently on April 28- the trial has been plagued by frequent interruptions.

Hearings have been postponed multiple times over the past several months, often cited as a necessity due to 'Israel' being engaged in active wars in Gaza and Iran.

The Prime Minister is currently facing charges in three separate cases, known as Case 1000, Case 2000, and Case 4000.

These investigations involve allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. If convicted, the charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Pardon requests

The legal battle has also taken on a significant diplomatic dimension involving the White House. In November 2025, US President Donald Trump sent a formal letter to 'Israeli' President Isaac Herzog urging him to grant Netanyahu a pardon.

Although Netanyahu had previously maintained that he would not seek such an intervention, he reversed his position at the end of November 2025 by formally requesting a pardon from Herzog.

The request remains a point of intense political debate within 'Israel' as the judiciary attempts to balance the legal requirements of the trial with the country's wartime leadership needs.