In recent weeks, Netanyahu has had an opportunity to look in the eye of one of those witnesses, Nir Hefetz. But, with the exception of a few hours at the start of Hefetz’s testimony, he chose not to do so. Perhaps because the testimony gave the prosecution exactly what it was looking for. Perhaps because the trial is progressing just as it would in Netanyahu’s worst nightmares.

Those statements may sound strange. Anyone following discussion of the trial on the social media sees views that range from “the trial is collapsing” (Bibi-ists) to “What’s going on there?” (the rest of the world).