Request denied: PM Netanyahu's trial hearings to be held 4 times a week starting November

The Israeli District Court rejected a request by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s defense attorneys to postpone conducting his corruption trial at the frequency of four times a week.

Starting in November, the trial will be held on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

At the same time, Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman informed the parties that, if necessary, it may be possible for Netanyahu to testify in three out of the four weekly hearings, rather than in all of them.

Last week, Kan News reported that the prime minister’s wife, Sarah Netanyahu, had asked Likud party ministers to add their signatures to a letter to Israeli President Isaac Herzog calling for her husband's pardon

Sarah approached several ministers who refused to sign the letter telling them, “This is good timing – even Trump asked, it’s important for us. The cases are baseless anyway and nothing will come of them – let’s just end this.”

The ministers considered the letter to Herzog to be unnecessary and without legal significance, viewing it as a gesture of flattery initiated by Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, rather than a significant move.

Nevertheless, following Sarah Netanyahu’s appeal, all Likud ministers ultimately “fell in line” and signed the letter.

Among other things, the ministers wrote to Herzog; “The key to initiating a process of healing and unity lies with you. The government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has led Israel to a tremendous victory over our enemies. Leaders around the world stand in awe of the historic and unprecedented leadership of Israel’s Prime Minister. He is loved and admired among all members of the national-faithful camp.”

“Regrettably, it is now clear to everyone that as long as his trial continues – which serves as an open wound within Israeli society – there will be no unity in Israel. Without further fueling division, it can at least be said that now, years after the investigations and the trial began, the situation has soured. It stirs disputes and arguments and has long since lost its significance.”