Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday appeared before the Tel Aviv District Court for the 21st time in his ongoing corruption trial, while simultaneously naming a temporary replacement for the dismissed head of Israel's internal security agency, Shin Bet. Netanyahu, who attends court twice weekly, is expected to complete 24 sessions as he defends himself against charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases dating back to 2019 — referred to as Case 1,000, Case 2,000, and Case 4,000. He has denied all allegations, calling them politically motivated. The proceedings, which began on May 24, 2020, mark the first time a sitting Israeli prime minister has taken the stand as a criminal defendant. Under Israeli law, Netanyahu is not required to resign unless convicted by the Supreme Court, a process that could take several months. Meanwhile, amid continued political turmoil, Netanyahu's office announced the appointment of the Shin Bet deputy chief — identified only as "Shin" — as interim leader of the security service. The move comes after Netanyahu's controversial dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar last month. However, Israel's Supreme Court has frozen Bar's dismissal until it reviews legal petitions challenging the decision on April 8. This marks the first time an Israeli government has dismissed a Shin Bet chief. Netanyahu maintains that the decision is within his executive authority and should not be subject to judicial oversight. On Tuesday, Netanyahu reversed his earlier plan to appoint former Navy chief Eli Sharvit as the new Shin Bet head, reportedly under pressure from his ruling coalition, which opposed Sharvit's selection due to his participation in anti-government protests in 2023. Netanyahu's office said the premier is continuing interviews with potential candidates for the post, with no final appointment expected before April 10, when Bar's term officially ends. Separately, Netanyahu also faces international legal challenges, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for him and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The Israeli military offensive has killed more than 50,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children, since October 7, 2023. — Agencies
