ToplineIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s criminal trial is set to resume Sunday amid the ceasefire reached with Iran, but the leader asked Friday to delay his own testimony in the trial, potentially further extending the yearslong legal proceedings amid conspiracies over whether Netanyahu is prolonging the Iran conflict for his own benefit.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for a press conference in Jerusalem on March 19.POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesKey FactsThe Israeli court system said Thursday that Netanyahu’s trial will resume this weekend, after Israel lifted its state of emergency that had kept the courts shuttered to all non-urgent proceedings since late February.Netanyahu’s attorney asked in a court filing Friday for the prime minister to avoid testifying in the case for “at least two weeks,” however, citing “classified security ​and diplomatic reasons connected” to the “dramatic events” in the Middle East, as quoted by Reuters.Netanyahu has pleaded not guilty to charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust and has been on trial in the case since 2020, though there have repeatedly been intermittent delays due to military action in Israel that have temporarily paused the proceedings, especially after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas and the ensuing Gaza war.President Donald Trump has decried the case against Netanyahu as a “witch hunt” and repeatedly pressed Israeli President Isaac Herzog to give him a pardon, most recently saying in March he didn’t “want there to ​be anything troubling Bibi other than the war with Iran,” calling Netanyahu by his nickname.As Israel’s continued bombing of Lebanon threatens the ceasefire agreement, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi speculated Thursday that Israel and the U.S. were intentionally drawing out the Iran conflict to keep Netanyahu out of court, writing on X, “A region-wide ceasefire, incl[uding] in Lebanon, would hasten [Netanyahu’s] jailing.”Araghchi added Iran is “prepared” if the ceasefire falls apart, writing, “If the U S. wishes to crater its economy by letting Netanyahu kill diplomacy, that would ultimately be its choice.”What To Watch ForThe court still has to rule on whether to grant Netanyahu’s request to delay his testimony. It’s unclear how much longer Netanyahu’s trial will last once it resumes, and whether the prime minister will ultimately be convicted. Netanyahu faces up to 10 years in prison for bribery if convicted, and up to three years in prison for each fraud and breach of trust charge, Reuters notes. He has continued serving as prime minister while the trial is ongoing, and even if he’s convicted, Israeli law would allow him to stay in power while he appeals the charges. Herzog has not given any indication yet that he intends to grant a pardon to Netanyahu, and Reuters notes doing so in the middle of the trial would be unprecedented in Israel.Netanyahu was first indicted in 2019 and is on trial for charges in three cases, which all broadly accuse the leader of improperly accepting gifts or favorable coverage in exchange for political favors. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him and denied wrongdoing, as did his co-conspirators.Case 4000: Prosecutors allege Netanyahu granted approximately $500 million worth of regulatory favors to Israeli telecom mogul Shaul Elovitch and his companies, in exchange for influence over Walla, a news website Elovich controlled, which covered Netanyahu and his wife. Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust for his alleged “reciprocal arrangement” with Elovich.Case 1000: Netanyahu was charged with fraud and breach of trust for allegedly receiving nearly $200,000 in gifts from Hollywood film producer Arnon Milchan and billionaire James Packer, particularly champagne and cigars. In exchange, Netanyahu allegedly helped Milchan’s business interests between 2011 and 2016, though the prime minister claims the gifts were merely tokens of friendship.Case 2000: Prosecutors allege Netanyahu negotiated a quid pro quo arrangement with Arnon Moses of the media group Yedioth Ahronoth, in 2014, charging Netanyahu with fraud and breach of trust. Netanyahu allegedly promised to promote legislation that would have hurt Yedioth Ahronoth’s rival newspaper in exchange for favorable coverage from Yedioth Ahronoth, though there are no allegations that he actually ended up pushing the legislation.Conspiracy Over Netanyahu’s Continued Action In IranAraghchi’s post Thursday is in line with broader speculation Netanyahu has pushed military action in the Middle East in order to delay his own corruption trial and potential conviction, though there’s no confirmation that’s the case. “Keeping Israel at war with Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah enables Netanyahu to drag out his corruption trial,” New York Times opinion columnist Thomas Friedman wrote in March, adding, “If you think that is too cynical, you don’t know Netanyahu.” The Israeli leader faced similar accusations in using Israel’s war against Hamas to his own benefit, and the Arab Center Washington D.C. argued in April 2025 that Netanyahu’s “central focus” since his trial began “has been evading judicial accountability.”Key BackgroundTrump announced Tuesday the U.S. had reached a ceasefire with Iran. Israel has continued to carry out deadly strikes in Lebanon following the agreement, however, part of Israel’s campaign against Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. The continued attacks in Lebanon have threatened the fragile ceasefire agreement and led to confusion over whether Lebanon was included in it, with the Trump administration claiming Iran was mistaken in believing it was. The Associated Press reported Thursday direct negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are slated to take place next week, and Netanyahu said he had made “repeated requests” for talks with Beirut and wanted to “open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible.” The Israeli leader has not given an indication Israel plans to curb its attacks in the meantime, however, saying in a video message Thursday that Israel would continue striking “Hezbollah with force and will not stop until we restore” security.Further ReadingForbesIsrael-Lebanon Peace Talks Could Start Next Week In D.C., Report SaysBy Antonio Pequeño IVForbesTrump Says Ceasefire Doesn’t Include Lebanon—After Iran Says It Does, And Closes Strait Of HormuzBy Sara Dorn