Israeli courts announced on Thursday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s criminal trial will recommence on Sunday following the end of a state of emergency that had been declared during hostilities with Iran.
The courts’ spokesperson said that with the emergency lifted and the judicial system returning to normal operations, hearings will proceed as usual between Sundays and Wednesdays. The suspension of routine court business had been part of broader emergency measures that closed schools and workplaces.
The state of emergency was ended on Wednesday evening after a truce saw no incoming Iranian ballistic missiles or drones reported since 3 a.m. (midnight GMT). The exchange of strikes began after Israel and U.S. President Donald Trump carried out air strikes on Iran on February 28 - actions that were described at the time as intended to prevent Iran from projecting force abroad, halt its nuclear programme and encourage the overthrow of its rulers. In response, Iran targeted Israel with ballistic missiles and drones.
Despite the pause in direct incoming attacks, the truce has been threatened by extensive Israeli operations in Lebanon aimed at countering the presence there of Iran-backed Hezbollah, the courts’ statement and other official accounts indicated. Those operations have complicated the broader security environment that preceded the resumption of judicial business.
Netanyahu, the first sitting Israeli prime minister to face criminal charges, denies accusations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust brought in 2019 after years of investigation. His trial opened in 2020 and, while it could result in custodial sentences if convictions are secured, it has experienced repeated postponements because of his official responsibilities. No completion date for the proceedings has been set.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly echoed Netanyahu’s requests to Israel’s President Isaac Herzog to consider a pardon, arguing that the prime minister’s frequent court appearances interfere with his capacity to perform state duties. Herzog’s office said the justice ministry’s pardons department will collect opinions and forward them to the president’s legal adviser, who will prepare a recommendation in line with established procedures. The office also noted that pardons are not typically granted while a trial is ongoing.
Observers note that the charges against Netanyahu, combined with the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023, have weakened his political standing. Israel is scheduled to hold national elections in October, and current assessments suggest Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition - described as the most right-wing in the country’s history - is likely to lose that vote.