In 2020, Benjamin Netanyahu became the first serving Israeli prime minister to stand trial.
In the first case, prosecutors alleged that he received gifts – mainly cigars and bottles of champagne – from powerful businessmen in exchange for favours.
He is accused in a second case of offering to help improve the circulation of an Israeli newspaper in exchange for positive coverage.
And in a third, prosecutors have alleged that he promoted regulatory decisions favourable to the controlling shareholder of an Israeli telecoms company in exchange for positive coverage by a news website.
Netanyahu has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and branded the trial as a “witch-hunt” by political opponents.
He said in Sunday’s video message that the continuation of the trial “tears us apart from within” at a time when Israel was facing “enormous challenges, and alongside them great opportunities” that required unity.
“I am certain, as are many others in the nation, that an immediate end to the trial would greatly help lower the flames and promote broad reconciliation – something our country desperately needs,” the prime minister added.
