Benjamin Netanyahu became the first sitting prime minister in Israel’s history to take the witness stand in his own corruption trial on Tuesday.

Israel’s prime minister, who is accused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three different cases, repeated his claim that he is subject of a witch hunt.

He appeared in Tel Aviv district court, saying: “I have waited eight years for this moment, to say the truth as I remember it, which is important for justice. There is no justice without truth.

“This is the opportunity to dispel the allegations against me. There is a great absurdity in the charges and great injustice,” he added.