Per the Associated Press, the corruption trial of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resumed on Wednesday, as the war between Israel and Hamas raged on. Netanyahu, who is charged with fraud, breach of trust, and bribery, was not present.
The trial’s continuation reflects the fragility of the already strained relationship between Israel and Palestine. Netanyahu has faced accusations of corruption for more than three years, and his trial has become part of the dismaying socio-political context that now exists.
The war between Israel and the Gaza Strip, led by the democratically elected Hamas, began on May 10th, and in the past two weeks, over 200 Palestinians and 12 Israelis have been killed in the ongoing violence. Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s trial has become a source of contention amidst the tribulations of war.
Netanyahu is looking to distract attention from his trial by engaging in war with Palestine. This attempt to divert attention away from the case against him is seen as a further demonstration of his disregard for justice.
On the evening of May 16th, moments after the Israeli army began strikes on Gaza in response to but a small barrage of rockets and mortars, Netanyahu declared: “Whoever harms us – we will harm him.” He added, “This is the policy and it will continue in this way.”
The disparity between Israel and Gaza is massive, with the former possessing an expansive military and having the backing of international powers like President Biden’s administration. This has enabled them to respond forcefully to Hamas’ acts of aggression, while at the same time allowing Netanyahu to avoid criminal prosecution.
While the international community continues to discuss ways to broker peace and de-escalate the situation, Israel continues to press ahead with its air strikes on Gaza, and Netanyahu has yet to be held to account.
With his trial reconvening, Netanyahu is under renewed pressure to prove his innocence. By taking a firm stance on winning the battle against Hamas and staying in power as Prime Minister of Israel, he continues to ignore the international calls for justice. And as the bloodshed in the region continues, the international community is left wondering if his corruption trial will ever truly take place.
