Israeli court delays Netanyahu corruption trial until April

<p>JERUSALEM &mdash; The Jerusalem court overseeing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial has delayed the opening of the dramatic evidentiary stage until after March 23 elections.</p>
<p>The three-judge panel issued a statement late Monday saying the proceedings, which have been repeatedly delayed due to legal wrangling and coronavirus restrictions, would begin on April 5 and take place three days a week.</p>
<p>Netanyahu had pushed to delay the witness stage of the trial until after the election, saying that allowing the testimonies before then would amount to “interference" in the political process. A number of former aides have agreed to testify against him as prosecution witnesses.</p>
<p>Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases.</p>
<p>He stands accused of accepting lavish gifts from wealthy associates and offering to grant favors to powerful media moguls in exchange for <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-media-middle-east-indictments-benjamin-netanyahu-abccbf3bf0fb0198df416dc78d48b750">favorable coverage </a> of him and his family. He <a href="https://apnews.com/article/netanyahu-pleads-not-guilty-trial-resume-00acff1fc1f26aa7aa722e296b732f7f">denies all charges</a>.</p>
<p>Netanyahu is hoping the election will result in a coalition of allies that would grant him immunity from prosecution.</p>