Netanyahu takes the stand in his graft trial for first time

He is testifying at the same time Israel is engaged in a war in Gaza and facing new threats posed by regional turmoil, including in Syria

- Reuters

TEL AVIV: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the witness stand for the first time on Tuesday in his long-running corruption trial, saying he was being hounded for his hawkish security policies.

Netanyahu, 75, is Israel's first sitting prime minister to be charged with a crime.

Last week judges ruled that Netanyahu, indicted in 2019, must testify three times a week, forcing the long-time Israeli leader to juggle between the courtroom and the war room at Israel's defence ministry, minutes away from the courthouse.

The leader of the right-wing Likud party, Netanyahu assailed the Israeli media for what he called its leftist stance and accused journalists of having hounded him for years because his policies did not align with a push for a Palestinian state.