Most Israelis support rejecting Netanyahu's request for delay in corruption testimony: Poll

By Zein Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) - Over half of Israelis support a court ruling rejecting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to delay his testimony in an ongoing corruption case, due later this week, said a new public opinion poll published Saturday.

The poll, carried out by the Lazar Research Institute and published in Maariv daily, indicates that 56% of Israelis back the court’s ruling, viewing it as justified.

A minority of 29% of respondents said the judges made a mistake, arguing that Netanyahu should not be required to testify during such a critical period. Some 15% of those polled were undecided.

In late November, the Jerusalem District Court rejected Netanyahu's request to delay his testimony, which was initially scheduled for Dec. 2, by an additional 15 days.

The court had already turned down his request in early November for a 2 1/2 month delay.

Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, with his trial having started in May 2020.

Under Israeli law, Netanyahu is not required to step down unless convicted by the Supreme Court, a process that could take months.

Netanyahu’s political enemies say he is using the war in Gaza as a shield from his corruption case, and rejecting efforts for peace to delay his facing justice.

- Ben-Gvir also favored to step down

The survey also found that 53% of respondents believe National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir should resign from his position, amid criminal suspicions surrounding some of his close police allies. Some 33% of respondents disagreed, and 14% were undecided.

Among voters from the ruling coalition, 73% believe he should remain in office, while 85% of opposition voters think he should step down.

The calls for Ben-Gvir’s resignation come amid ongoing investigations into alleged misconduct by police officers linked to him.

Israel launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October last year, killing over 44,600 people, most of them women and children, and injuring nearly 106,000.

Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its deadly war on Gaza.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi in Ankara