On Saturday, the judges presiding over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s three cases rejected his request to testify only one day this week. As a result, the hearings are being held on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM.
Netanyahu’s attorney Amit Hadad told the court on Saturday night that Netanyahu’s medical documents stated that “it is recommended to avoid continuous activity for more than three hours without rest in the coming week, as well as to avoid long trips, sitting or standing for long periods.”
According to Hadad, “traveling to Tel Aviv for a hearing, and certainly testifying for several hours, are not in line with medical recommendations. However, in order to advance the process, the honorable court is requested to determine that next week the prime minister’s testimony will be heard on one day – with Tuesday or Wednesday a preference so that the prime minister will have additional time to recover. We also request necessary adjustments in the hearing, so that during the hearing of the testimony, relatively long breaks will be held more frequently than usual.”
Netanyahu addressed his health condition Monday morning, at the beginning of his testimony in the Tel Aviv District Court, and explained that his recovery was not complete because, in the middle of the process, he was dragged to the Knesset to vote a month ago, since Otzma Yehudit Chairman Itamar Ben Gvir decided to vote against the coalition. Netanyahu came straight from the hospital to vote, against the recommendation of his doctors.
“You have to understand, I had surgery a little less than a month ago, 4 weeks. The normal recovery process for a person who is resting is six weeks, as is customary,” Netanyahu said, explaining, “In my case, the recovery did not go exactly according to the doctors’ expectations and wishes because I was dragged and carried away by necessity as Prime Minister of Israel to deal with matters in the Knesset for hours and a day, I don’t remember anymore — after I came out of surgery.”
Netanyahu added that there were also many public needs, including issues related to the hostages and Lebanon, and things he claimed he couldn’t get into. “That rest and recovery under all the treatments and antibiotics, it did not happen, and I am still in the process of recovering and I have not recovered yet,” he told the judges.
“Therefore, through my lawyers, I asked for consideration, given the medical condition I am in and my situation as the Prime Minister who deals with matters that are not invented. This is not an exaggeration or a spin, but matters concerning life and death and our national security, without even nano-exaggeration,” Netanyahu continued.
“I regretted the court’s decision and I respect it, of course. I ask for consideration for this, and at the end of today I will show how I feel and I will tell you my situation. I ask for consideration for this reality that would have been granted to every person,” Netanyahu said.
Later on, Netanyahu received an envelope, looked at the documents inside, and told the judges: “I have to stop.” The court granted the request.
