Monday’s appearance was Netanyahu’s second in court since his corruption trial formally began in May.
Netanyahu, wearing a black mask, entered court shortly after 9:00 a.m. and stood up to confirm that the pleas of not guilty, previously filed in written form by his attorneys, represented his response to the charges.
“I confirm the written answer submitted in my name,” the prime minister told the judges.
Netanyahu, the first sitting Israeli prime minister to appear in court as a defendant, is being charged in three separate cases.
In the most serious case, Netanyahu is accused of promoting legal benefits worth more than 1 billion shekels (more than $ 300 million) in favor of a telecommunications company controlled by a millionaire friend, prosecutors say. In return, Netanyahu received favorable coverage from a news site, even influencing wording and story selection, prosecutors claim.
The timetable of the trial will also be discussed during Monday’s session, particularly when a full evidence process must take place.
Israelis will vote in six weeks’ general election, and in a possible indication of the prime minister’s desire to delay opening the prosecution and summoning witnesses, one of his most loyal party allies has called on judges to postpone further hearings until after the votes on 23 March.
Allowing the proceedings to continue at this time would be “gross interference in the electoral process by the judiciary,” parliament speaker Yariv Levin told Israel Hayom newspaper on Sunday.
Outside of the court, dozens of anti-Netanyahu protesters gathered, many with the now well-known “Minister of Crime” placards.
His supporters were also in number, one of them carrying a banner that read, “You will never walk alone, Netanyahu.”
On Sunday evening, the prime minister issued a statement urging followers to stay home because of the pandemic.
“I know you want to empower me in the face of the strung and false things against me. But we are in a time of mutation spreading across the world, even in Israel, so for your health I ask you – do it won’t come tomorrow, ‘the statement said.
He went on in that statement to reiterate his claim that his trial was an attempt to remove him from office.
“Everyone understands that this is a transparent attempt to overthrow a powerful prime minister of the right and create a left-wing government headed by [opposition leader Yair] Lapid. “
Under Israeli law, Netanyahu does not have to resign, even if he is now on trial. Only if convicted and every conviction upheld through the appeal process would he be forced to resign from office.