Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has appeared in a district court in Jerusalem in a trial involving allegations of corruption.
According to reports, Netanyahu is accused of advancing favorable regulatory measures for media moguls in return for positive media coverage of himself and his family. He is also alleged to have accepted luxury gifts, including cigars and champagne, valued at tens of thousands of dollars, from a billionaire Hollywood producer in exchange for assistance with personal and business matters.
Netanyahu has consistently denied the accusations, describing them as part of a “witch hunt” orchestrated by a biased media and legal system intent on undermining his prolonged tenure in office.
Meanwhile, Israel’s air force is reportedly poised to dismantle a buffer zone in Syria, established after the 1973 Middle East war. This decision follows a wave of airstrikes launched after the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad and a series of attacks across Syria. According to an opposition war monitor, Israeli ground forces have also advanced north of the Golan Heights along the Lebanese border.
Israeli officials have stated that the move is temporary and intended to prevent potential cross-border attacks following the withdrawal of Syrian troops.
