Holiday Ayo - The ceasefire in Gaza has brought a new chapter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial.

The previously postponed trial resumed in Tel Aviv on Wednesday (October 16).

The trial had been underway since May 2020 and had drawn thousands of Israelis to protest against Netanyahu's resignation. However, the Gaza war divided public attention.

According to AFP on Thursday (October 16), Netanyahu was seen smiling during the trial as he and his entourage, which included several ministers from the conservative Likud party, were jeered by protesters.

"This happened on the way to court," the website wrote.

Netanyahu is actually facing three separate corruption cases filed since 2019: Case 1000, Case 2000, and Case 4000, which include charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.

In Case 1000, also known as the Gift Affair, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, were accused of accepting luxury goods worth over US$260,000 from Israeli Hollywood film producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer.

This included champagne, cigars, and jewelry from the billionaires in exchange for political favors.

Milchan admitted to accepting these gifts to Netanyahu to facilitate his own efforts to obtain a US visa after Netanyahu spoke with several US officials.

Netanyahu also lobbied for tax exemption legislation that would benefit Israelis abroad. Gifts to Netanyahu and his wife continued.

In Case 2000, Netanyahu was also charged with attempting to negotiate better press coverage from two Israeli media outlets.

He struck a deal with businessman Aron Mozes, the controlling shareholder of the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, for "favorable" coverage.

He also "castrated" Yedioth Ahronoth's rival daily, Israel Hayom. This case also charges Netanyahu with fraud and breach of trust.

In the third case, Case 4000, Netanyahu is involved in a scandal involving a telecommunications company.

He provided assistance to Bezeq in exchange for positive coverage on a website controlled by the company.

Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and even claimed to be the victim of a political conspiracy.

Threatened with Prison?

These cases could result in prison sentences for Netanyahu. Breach of trust could result in three years in prison, while bribery could result in 10 years in prison and a fine.

However, it's important to note that during his current term, which begins in late 2022, Netanyahu has proposed sweeping judicial reforms.

He wants the judiciary, the Supreme Court, to be subordinate to the executive branch.

These reforms sparked massive protests, which only subsided after the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023.

Trump's Pardon Request?

During a trip to the Middle East earlier this week to attend the Gaza summit in Egypt, while visiting Israel, US President Donald Trump addressed the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.

Trump told the assembly that Netanyahu should receive a pardon for his corruption convictions.

"Cigars and champagne, who cares about that?" Trump joked, before asking Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

"Why don't you give him a pardon?" he added.

It's unclear how this was received in Israel. However, Trump's request coincided with the Gaza deal, leading analysts to speculate it was a "way to persuade Netanyahu."

Threatened with Imprisonment Abroad?

Actually, it's not just at home. Netanyahu is also facing imprisonment abroad.

This is related to the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for allegedly ordering war crimes in his government's offensive against Hamas militants in Gaza.

Netanyahu himself holds the record for the longest-serving head of Israel, having served for 18 years across several terms as prime minister since 1996.