Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s motion to extend the start of his corruption trial was denied on Wednesday.

Netanyahu’s defense team argued that the prime minister has been unable to prepare for testimony due to the demands of managing the current multi-front war. His attorney, Amit Hadad, made an impassioned plea emphasizing that Netanyahu has prioritized national security over his personal legal matters.

“Netanyahu is managing the entire war, and there are weeks when we can’t meet with him. Can this be ignored?” Hadad questioned. “Do we not want a prime minister whose head is entirely focused on managing the war?”

Furthermore, Hadad argued that witnesses typically testify four days per week, with sessions lasting five to six hours daily—something not feasible for a Prime Minister in a time of conflict.

The prosecution argued that the prime minister can’t dictate justice.

“The prime minister can’t dictate the schedule for his trial and testimony,” Attorney Yehudit Tirosh argued, pointing out that similar security challenges existed when the December date was initially set. “We were at war in July in Gaza, with attacks from the north, and we’re at war now.”

Nevertheless, the Jerusalem District Court maintained that no “substantial change in circumstances” justified altering the December 2nd date for the trial to begin. In a telling exchange, Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman questioned whether Netanyahu would be prepared to testify by March 2025. Hadad acknowledged he couldn’t guarantee readiness even then, given the unpredictable nature of the security situation.

Netanyahu faces charges of fraud and breach of trust in two cases, plus additional charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in a third case. The trial, which began in May 2020, is now in its fourth year, with the prime minister maintaining his innocence on all charges.”