Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentions Australian holiday as he takes the stand during corruption trial

As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stand to defend himself against corruption charges, he said his life outside politics was much better – especially his holiday to Australia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken the stand in his corruption trial stating he did not demand perks and his life between his terms in office was much more enjoyable as he had the freedom to go on a holiday to Australia.

Mr Netanyahu, the first sitting Prime Minister of Israel to face a criminal trial, appeared in court in Tel Aviv on Tuesday local time for the first time after repeatedly seeking to delay his appearance.

He faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust in three separate cases.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the district court in Tel Aviv for his hearing on corruption charges on Tuesday. Picture: AFP

Mr Netanyahu hit back at accusations he exploited his position as Prime Minister.

“This is total lies. I work 17, 18 hours a day. Everyone who knows me knows this,” Mr Netanyahu said.

“That’s how I work. I eat my meals at my work table, it’s not cordon bleu, it’s not waiters coming with white gloves.”

Mr Netanyahu denies receiving perks in office. Picture: AFP

Mr Netanyahu said he worked “around the clock, I go to bed at 1 or 2 at night, I have almost no time to see my family, see my children, which is a big price to pay.”

He said he did occasionally smoke a cigar between meetings but never asked for champagne as he “hated” it.

Mr Netanyahu served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 1999 then spent a decade out of office before returning to the role in 2009 where he has served ever since aside from a brief period in 2021 and 2022.

Then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Mr Netanyahu visit Armidale in 2017. Picture: AFP

Reflecting on the 10 years between his terms, Mr Netanyahu argued that life was more luxurious than the one he led today.

“I had freedom, I went with my family to Disneyland, to Australia, we went on excursions, it was great,” Mr Netanyahu said.

He called the allegation he seeks “enjoyment and leisure” in his role as the leader of Israel to be “simply ridiculous.”

While Mr Netanyahu did visit Australia in his role as Prime Minister in 2017 when he travelled to Sydney to meet with the Australian leader Malcolm Turnbull, he appeared to be referring on the stand to a trip he took to Melbourne in 2001.

Mr Netanyahu, then federal Opposition leader Kim Beazley and then Victorian Premier Steve Bracks at the opening of Chabad House of Caulfield synagogue in 2001. Picture: Graham Crouch

Competing groups of protesters who either support Mr Netanyahu or want to see him jailed have rallied outside the court.

An AFP journalist outside the court reported that the prime minister’s supporters chanted “Netanyahu, the people support you”, while protesters who have been rallying against him for months chanted “Bibi to prison”.

The trial, which has been delayed many times since it first began in May 2020, is scheduled to last for several months, with an appeals process that could further prolong matters.

Mr Netanyahu, who filed multiple requests to delay the proceedings on the basis of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, denies any wrongdoing.

A protester dressed as Mr Netanyahu in a prisoner uniform demonstrates outside the court. Picture: Getty Images

In the first case, Mr Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, are accused of accepting more than $260,000 worth of luxury goods such as cigars, jewellery and champagne from billionaires in exchange for political favours.

Among the alleged benefactors are Israeli-born Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian business executive James Packer.

The other two cases allege that Mr Netanyahu attempted to negotiate more favourable coverage in two Israeli media outlets.

James Packer is named in the case as having allegedly given a gift to Mr Netanyahu. Picture: Channel 7.

One involves alleged attempts by the prime minister to reach a deal with Arnon Mozes, publisher of the popular Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, for better coverage by agreeing to weaken the status of a rival daily newspaper.

The other alleges that Mr Netanyahu received favourable coverage on the popular news website Walla, owned by his close friend Shaul Elovitch, in exchange for smoothing the way for a telecoms merger sought by Elovitch.