'Bribery charges' Netanyahu requests trial to be postponed again

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been charged with bribery and other charges, has asked the court to delay the trial by 15 days again, Xinhua reported, citing local media.

Netanyahu's side did its best but insisted that preparations could not be completed by the 2nd of next month, when the trial is scheduled.

Netanyahu's side had previously asked for the trial to be delayed by 10 weeks, but the court rejected the trial date, saying it had five months to prepare for last July.

Netanyahu was indicted in 2020 on three counts of bribery and fraud, and was suspended for two months in October last year due to the outbreak of a war with Hamas and then resumed.

If convicted, Netanyahu would become the first sitting prime minister to face criminal punishment in Israel.

Netanyahu denies the allegations, calling them a witch hunt for political purposes.