Netanyahu under cross-examination: He repeated it exactly 1788 times

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was cross-examined for the first time last Tuesday as part of the corruption cases against him. During the hearing at the Jerusalem District Court, Netanyahu responded to the prosecutor's questions 1788 times with the phrase "I don't remember." According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, his repeated use of this response to the prosecutor's detailed questions has caused a significant stir in public opinion.

LUXURY GIFTS UNDER SCRUTINY IN "CASE 1000"

The focus of the cross-examination was the case known publicly as "Case 1000." In this file, it is alleged that Netanyahu received luxury gifts totaling 195 thousand dollars—including expensive cigars, champagne, and approximately 3,100 dollars worth of jewelry for his wife, Sara Netanyahu—from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer.

Avoiding direct answers to prosecutor Yonatan Tadmor's questions, Netanyahu defended himself by saying, "Everyone can forget things from time to time; even I can have memory lapses." Following the cross-examination, Netanyahu made a statement in which he characterized the court proceedings as "a joke."

A HISTORIC TRIAL PROCESS

Netanyahu holds the title of being the first prime minister in Israeli history to be tried while in office. On November 21, 2019, Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit requested that charges be filed against him in three separate cases. These charges include serious counts such as bribery, abuse of office for personal gain, and breach of trust.

The first hearing took place on May 24, 2020, at the Jerusalem District Court. Netanyahu is being tried in three separate corruption cases known publicly as "1000," "2000," and "4000." These cases cover a wide spectrum, ranging from his relationships with media moguls to special benefits provided for political gain.