Supporters and opponents argue as Israel's Netanyahu arrives at court

(10 Dec 2024) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Tel Aviv, Israel - 10 December 2024 1. Mid of supporters and opponents of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu arguing in court hallway 2. Supporters and opponents arguing, UPSOUND No name given, Netanyahu opponent (Hebrew): “The same way as Golani toppled Assad, so here he will fall” No name given, Netanyahu supporter, (Hebrew): “You will fall” No name given, Netanyahu opponent (Hebrew): “He went down, and he will go down another 10 more floors” Moshe Miller, a lawyer and Netanyahu supporter, (Hebrew): “It has been 15 years that you say he will fall, but the people continue to support him” 3. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Moshe Miller, lawyer: “I think that what is happening here against Netanyahu in terms of the way the proceedings are managed is wrong and they shouldn't have allowed this to happen in the current situation that Israel is in … to allow what is happening here. Bibi (Netanyahu) said yesterday in a press conference, he said one sentence that was the strongest. He said, 'If the people had believed you in the media, I wouldn't be standing here today as Prime Minister' and that's covers it all in one sentence.” 4. Mid of hallway 5. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Almog Cohen, Israeli lawmaker from the Otzma Yehudit Party: “My response is: complete madness. On the night the State of Israel destroyed de facto the Syrian Air Force, the Syrian missile force, and other means that I can’t expand on, after a sleepless night that the Prime Minister spent in the military command centre he has to deal with these nonsense, three times a week. I just want us to understand that a reservist today in an operational activity gets his testimony postponed, but I'm not complaining. Two more mandates this morning, we will keep working hard for the people of Israel.” 6. Wide of hallway STORYLINE: Supporters and opponents of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued in the hallway of a court on Tuesday where the prime minister was set to take the stand in his long-running trial for alleged corruption. The trial will set off what’s expected to be a weekslong spectacle that will draw unwelcome attention to his legal woes as he faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes and the fighting in Gaza continues. One opponent of Netanyahu argued with a supporter, telling him that Netanyahu will be "toppled" just like Syrian rebels toppled Syria's former President Bashar Assad. Meanwhile, Almog Cohen, an Israeli lawmaker from the Otzma Yehudit Party, the same party of which national security minister Ben Gvir belongs, expressed his support for the Prime Minister. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases. He is accused of accepting tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of cigars and champagne and exchanging favours with wealthy associates. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, saying the charges are a witch hunt.  He arrived at the packed courtroom ahead of his testimony, appearing at ease and shaking hands with members of his Likud party who were in attendance. Before taking the stand, Netanyahu's lawyer laid out the defence's case, and attempted to poke holes in the indictment. AP video shot by Alon Bernstein =========================================================== Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/1923e12782694afeaa0faa598a62de91