Netanyahu testimony briefly interrupted by note from military secretary: Make war not Justices

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Tel Aviv District Court before the start of his testimony in his trial, June 3, 2025.
Photo: ‘The Times of Israel’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s testimony in his criminal trial in the Tel Aviv District Court is halted briefly after he is handed a note from Military Secretary Maj. Gen. Roman Gofman, who arrived at the court to speak with the prime minister, ‘The Times of Israel’ reports.

“I have to see him immediately, he doesn’t usually come here,” Netanyahu tells the judges, who grant him permission to leave the courtroom to speak with Gofman.

Israel Attacks Damascus. Media reports strike on Syrian Defense Ministry building.

The Israeli Air Force struck the presidential palace in Damascus.

Israel sent a message to the Syrian leader through Egyptian intermediaries: “Your regime will fall within hours if you do not stop the massacre of the Druze and leave Suwayda.”

Earlier, Druze Sheikh Kiwan said: “If our federal project is not possible, we will join the state of Israel, we are no longer Syrians.”

Media reports strike on Syrian Defense Ministry building.
Photo: Al Jazeera

Following an approximately 20-minute break Netanyahu returns to the court.

Army Radio reports the interruption revolved around Druze leaders holding an emergency meeting following reports of renewed attacks by Syrian forces on the Druze city of Druze-majority city of Sweida.

The report says there are fears that Druze living in Israel may cross into Syria en-masse to try and help their brethren and start deserting the IDF.

Prosecutor Yonatan Tadmor is focusing today on the allegations in the indictment that Netanyahu tried to help billionaire Hollywood Arnon Milchan secure a long-term US visa.

Netanyahu and his wife Sarah received hundreds of thousands of shekels in luxury gifts from Milchan, and the indictment alleges that by providing the billionaire with assistance not available to other people the prime minister committed the crime of fraud and breach of trust.

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