Prime Minister Netanyahu Does Not Go to Court (CEFR Compare)

Apr 27, 2026, 07:15

Prime Minister Netanyahu Does Not Go to Court

Introduction

Benjamin Netanyahu is the Prime Minister of Israel. He has a court case about corruption. He was supposed to speak in court, but he will not go now.

Main Body

The court in Jerusalem stopped the meeting on Monday. Netanyahu's lawyer said it is not safe for him to go. The judges agreed. Now, a woman named Ilanit Filber will speak in court instead. The government lawyers are not happy. They want the Prime Minister to come to court. They say the public needs to know the truth. They want to finish the questions for him. This case is about money and favors. The lawyers say Netanyahu gave help to a phone company boss. In return, a news website wrote good stories about him. Netanyahu says he did nothing wrong. Netanyahu has other problems too. A big international court wants to arrest him. They say he did bad things in the war in Gaza. He is still fighting these cases in court.

Conclusion

Netanyahu will not speak in court today because of security. Other people will speak instead. He still says he is not guilty.

Vocabulary Learning

court (n.)

legal building where cases are heard法庭

Example:I went to the court to file a complaint.

judge (n.)

person who decides a case in court法官

Example:The judge listened to both sides.

safe (adj.)

free from danger or risk安全

Example:It is not safe to drive in the storm.

speak (v.)

to talk or give a speech說話

Example:She will speak at the meeting tomorrow.

truth (n.)

the real facts or reality真相

Example:We want the truth about what happened.

Sentence Learning

He was supposed to speak in court, but he will not go now.

Connector: The word 'but' shows a contrast between two ideas.連接詞: 'but' 用於表示兩個想法之間的對比。

Now, a woman named Ilanit Filber will speak in court instead.

Time: 'Now' indicates the present moment.時間: 'Now' 表示現在的時間。

The court in Jerusalem stopped the meeting.

Preposition: The phrase 'in Jerusalem' shows location.介詞: 'in Jerusalem' 表示位置。

Netanyahu will not speak in court today because of security.

Reason: The word 'because' explains why something happens.原因: 'because' 用於說明事情發生的原因。

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Court Testimony Postponed

Introduction

The planned return of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to testify in his corruption trial has been delayed after his lawyers raised security concerns.

Main Body

The Jerusalem District Court cancelled the Prime Minister's appearance on Monday. This testimony was supposed to resume after a two-month break caused by the conflict with Iran. The court made this decision after defense attorney Amit Hadad requested a delay, citing security and diplomatic reasons. As a result, the judges decided that the court would instead hear testimony from Ilanit Filber, the wife of state witness Shlomo Filber. However, the State Attorney's Office criticized this delay. Prosecutors asserted that the Prime Minister's schedule should follow the court's requirements to ensure the trial is completed for the public interest. This dispute is part of Case 4000, the most serious of three charges filed in 2019. In this case, the Prime Minister is accused of bribery, specifically that he gave regulatory favors to Bezeq executive Shaul Elovitch in exchange for positive coverage on the Walla news site. Furthermore, the legal situation is complicated by other issues. The State Attorney's Office wants to cancel the witness agreement with Shlomo Filber because of inconsistencies in his 2022 testimony. At the same time, the Prime Minister faces international pressure; in November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him regarding alleged war crimes in Gaza. The trial is currently in the cross-examination phase, which began in June 2025.

Conclusion

While the Prime Minister continues to deny all charges of bribery and corruption, his testimony has been put on hold for security reasons while the court hears from other witnesses.

Vocabulary Learning

cancelled (v.)

call off / to stop a planned event取消

Example:The court cancelled the Prime Minister's appearance.

delay (n.)

postponement / a period added to a schedule延遲

Example:The delay was requested by the defense attorney.

diplomatic (adj.)

relating to foreign relations / tactful in handling affairs外交的

Example:The request cited security and diplomatic reasons.

regulatory (adj.)

relating to rules or laws that control an activity規範的

Example:He gave regulatory favors to the executive.

security (n.)

protection from danger or threat / state of being safe安全

Example:They raised security concerns before the testimony.

Sentence Learning

This testimony was supposed to resume after a two-month break caused by the conflict with Iran.

Passive Voice: The verb phrase 'was supposed to resume' is a passive construction that expresses an expectation or obligation about the testimony.被動語態: 這句中的動詞片語「was supposed to resume」採用了被動語態，表示對證詞恢復的預期或義務。

The court made this decision after defense attorney Amit Hadad requested a delay, citing security and diplomatic reasons.

Linking Word (after): The conjunction 'after' introduces a time clause that explains when the decision was made.連接詞 (after): 連接詞「after」引入時間子句，說明判決作出的時間。

Prosecutors asserted that the Prime Minister's schedule should follow the court's requirements to ensure the trial is completed for the public interest.

Content Clause: The clause 'that the Prime Minister's schedule should follow the court's requirements' functions as the object of 'asserted' and provides the information that prosecutors are stating.內容子句: 子句「that the Prime Minister's schedule should follow the court's requirements」作為「asserted」的賓語，提供檢方所表述的內容。

At the same time, the Prime Minister faces international pressure; in November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him regarding alleged war crimes in Gaza.

Contrastive Conjunction (At the same time): 'At the same time' signals that two events are occurring concurrently but have different implications.對比連接詞 (At the same time): 「At the same time」表示兩件事同時發生，但含義不同。

While the Prime Minister continues to deny all charges of bribery and corruption, his testimony has been put on hold for security reasons while the court hears from other witnesses.

While Clause: The first 'while' introduces a contrastive time clause, and the second 'while' introduces a concurrent action; the passive 'has been put on hold' indicates the state of the testimony.while 子句: 第一個「while」引入對比時間子句，第二個「while」引入同時發生的行為；被動語態「has been put on hold」表示證詞的狀態。

Suspension of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Criminal Trial Testimony

Introduction

The scheduled resumption of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's testimony in his ongoing corruption trial has been postponed following the submission of security concerns by his legal counsel.

Main Body

The Jerusalem District Court cancelled the Prime Minister's appearance on Monday, an event that was intended to follow a two-month hiatus caused by conflict with Iran. This decision followed a request from defense attorney Amit Hadad, who cited unspecified security and diplomatic considerations. While the court had previously prepared for the testimony to proceed, the judicial panel—comprising Judges Rivka Friedman-Feldman, Moshe Bar-Am, and Oded Shaham—determined that the proceedings would instead feature testimony from Ilanit Filber, the spouse of state witness Shlomo Filber. Regarding the legal positioning of the parties, the State Attorney's Office expressed opposition to the postponement. The prosecution argued that the Prime Minister's schedule should be subordinated to the court's requirements to ensure the completion of the cross-examination process in the interest of the public. This procedural conflict occurs within the broader context of Case 4000, the most severe of three indictments filed in November 2019. This specific case involves allegations of bribery, wherein the Prime Minister is accused of implementing regulatory favors for Bezeq telecommunications executive Shaul Elovitch in exchange for favorable reporting on the Walla news platform. Further complicating the legal landscape are the inconsistencies noted in the 2022 testimony of Shlomo Filber, which led the State Attorney's Office to seek the revocation of his state witness agreement. Additionally, the Prime Minister's domestic legal challenges coincide with international judicial actions; in November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu concerning alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. The current trial remains in the cross-examination phase, a stage that commenced in June 2025 after the defendant's initial appearance in December 2024.

Conclusion

The Prime Minister's testimony remains deferred due to security considerations, with the court proceeding with alternative witnesses while the defendant continues to deny all bribery and corruption allegations.

Vocabulary Learning

cross-examination (n.)

the process of questioning a witness by the opposing side / 交叉詢問交叉審訊

Example:The defense conducted a rigorous cross-examination of the key witness.

indictments (n.)

formal charges brought by a prosecutor / 正式起訴起訴書

Example:The court issued indictments against the former mayor.

revocation (n.)

the act of canceling or withdrawing / 撤銷撤銷

Example:The agency announced the revocation of the license after the investigation.

subordinated (adj.)

placed under the authority of another / 服從於屈從

Example:The minister's schedule was subordinated to the chief's directives.

war crimes (n.)

illegal acts committed during war that violate humanitarian law / 戰爭罪行戰爭罪行

Example:The tribunal indicted the commander for war crimes committed in the conflict.

Sentence Learning

The Jerusalem District Court cancelled the Prime Minister's appearance on Monday, an event that was intended to follow a two-month hiatus caused by conflict with Iran.

Reduced Relative Clause: The phrase 'caused by conflict with Iran' functions as a reduced relative clause modifying 'hiatus', omitting the relative pronoun and auxiliary verb.簡化相對子句: 片語 'caused by conflict with Iran' 作為一個簡化相對子句修飾 'hiatus'，省略了相對代詞與助動詞。

The prosecution argued that the Prime Minister's schedule should be subordinated to the court's requirements to ensure the completion of the cross-examination process in the interest of the public.

Modal Purpose Clause: The modal verb 'should be subordinated' expresses an obligation, and the infinitive phrase 'to ensure the completion...' functions as a purpose clause clarifying why the schedule must be subordinated.情態動詞 + 目的子句: 情態動詞 'should be subordinated' 表示義務，後續的不定式片語 'to ensure the completion...' 作為目的子句說明安排須被 subordinated 的原因。

This specific case involves allegations of bribery, wherein the Prime Minister is accused of implementing regulatory favors for Bezeq telecommunications executive Shaul Elovitch in exchange for favorable reporting on the Walla news platform.

Wherein Relative Clause: The word 'wherein' introduces a relative clause that provides additional information about the allegations, functioning like a relative pronoun.‘wherein’ 相對子句: 'wherein' 這個詞引入一個相對子句，提供關於貪污指控的額外資訊，類似相對代詞。

Additionally, the Prime Minister's domestic legal challenges coincide with international judicial actions; in November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu concerning alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.

Semicolon Coordination: The semicolon links two independent clauses, indicating a close relationship between the domestic challenges and the international actions.分號協調: 分號連接兩個獨立子句，表明國內挑戰與國際行動之間的密切關係。

Further complicating the legal landscape are the inconsistencies noted in the 2022 testimony of Shlomo Filber, which led the State Attorney's Office to seek the revocation of his state witness agreement.

Nominalization: The noun phrase 'revocation of his state witness agreement' is a nominalization of the verb 'revocate', turning the action into a noun.名詞化: 名詞片語 'revocation of his state witness agreement' 將動詞 'revocate' 名詞化，將行為轉化為名詞。