Netanyahu vows to challenge ‘absurd’ corruption charges as he gives evidence

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the district court where he is giving evidence in his trial for alleged corruption (Menahem Kahana/Pool Photo via AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised defiantly to refute the corruption allegations against him as he began giving evidence in his trial on Tuesday.

Mr Netanyahu is the first sitting Israeli leader to take the stand as a criminal defendant at the same time as he faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes allegations.