Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared before the Tel Aviv District Court on Monday for the 79th time to respond to corruption charges against him, local media said.

The session marked the 79th day of cross-examination in Case 4000, Maariv newspaper reported.

According to the indictment, Netanyahu maintained a bribery relationship with businessman Shaul Elovitch. As part of that relationship, the premier and his family allegedly made various demands of the Elovitch family regarding media coverage of their affairs on the Walla news website, which Elovitch controlled.

The requests allegedly included limiting coverage of Netanyahu’s political rivals, the newspaper reported.

Several Israelis protested outside the courthouse against Netanyahu, who denies the allegations.

The court proceedings continue amid deep divisions in Israel over Netanyahu’s formal request for a pardon from President Isaac Herzog.

Netanyahu requested a pardon on Nov. 30 for the corruption charges against him, but did not admit guilt or say he would leave politics.

Since the trial began, Netanyahu has refused to admit guilt. Israeli law allows the president to grant a pardon only after a defendant acknowledges wrongdoing.

Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three cases known as Cases 1000, 2000 and 4000. Prosecutors filed indictments in the cases in late November 2019.

Case 1000 centers on allegations that Netanyahu and members of his family received expensive gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for favors and assistance in various matters.

In Case 2000, he is accused of negotiating with Arnon Mozes, publisher of the privately owned Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, to secure favorable media coverage.

Case 4000 involves allegations that Netanyahu advanced regulatory decisions benefiting Elovitch, the former owner of the Walla news website and a former executive at the Bezeq telecommunications company, in exchange for positive coverage.

Netanyahu’s trial began in 2020 and remains ongoing. He denies the charges, calling them a “political campaign aimed at toppling” him.

In addition to the corruption trial, Netanyahu has been wanted since 2024 to appear before the International Criminal Court on accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

With US backing, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza in October 2023 that continued for two years, killing more than 72,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, wounding more than 171,000 others, and destroying 90% of civilian infrastructure. (AA)