The Jerusalem District Court announced Sunday that the opening of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial will be postponed from March 17 to May 24 over the coronavirus crisis.
Late on Saturday night, Justice Minister Amir Ohana declared a special emergency situation in the judiciary, all but suspending it operations in accordance with Health Ministry guidelines over the outbreak.
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According to a statement by the Courts Administration, the decision was cleared by Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit.
Netanyahu is facing corruption charges in three cases: Case 1,000, which centers on gifts Netanyahu allegedly received from Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer; Case 2,000, which focuses on an illicit deal Netanyahu allegedly tried to strike with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes so as to ensure positive coverage; and Case 4,000, which centers on an alleged deal by which Shaul Elovitch, the controlling shareholder of Israeli telecom corporation Bezeq, ensured positive coverage of the Netanyahu family by the Walla news website, which Bezeq owns, in exchange for the prime minister promoting government regulations worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the company.
