Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has requested to cancel Wednesday's cross-examination for diplomatic or security reasons.
The prosecution and judges both agreed to his request.
The reason for the cancellation was passed to the judges in a sealed envelope.
Netanyahu's hearing shortened
Presiding judges Rivka Friedman-Feldman, Moshe Bar-Am, and Oded Shaham announced at the start of Tuesday's hearing that it would end at 1:30 p.m. instead of 4:30 p.m., following a preliminary discussion held in their chambers with Netanyahu present.
Monday’s hearing had been canceled at the last minute due to “diplomatic and security reasons,” with the court saying Tuesday’s session would proceed as scheduled. The shortened hearing comes amid heightened regional security tensions and continued high-level consultations by the prime minister.
The trial is currently in its defense phase, with Netanyahu being cross-examined by the prosecution over Case 2000, the media bribery case involving Yediot Aharonot publisher and owner Arnon “Noni” Mozes.
The case centers on recorded conversations between Netanyahu and Mozes. According to the indictment, the two discussed a possible arrangement under which Mozes would improve Netanyahu’s coverage in Yediot Aharonot in exchange for steps that would limit Israel Hayom, a rival newspaper whose free distribution posed a major economic threat to Yediot Aharonot.