Israel’s Netanyahu is set to take the stand in long-running corruption trial

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a press conference (Abir Sultan/Pool via AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to take the stand on Tuesday in his long-running trial for alleged corruption, setting off what’s expected to be a weekslong spectacle that will draw unwelcome attention to his legal woes as he faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes and the fighting in Gaza continues.

It is the first time an Israeli prime minister will take the stand as a criminal defendant, an embarrassing milestone for a leader who has tried to cultivate an image as a sophisticated and respected statesman.