Stormy Legal Clashes Over Mandelblit's Testimony in Netanyahu Trial

In depth

The judges rejected the defense's request in the Netanyahu trial, by majority opinion, to question former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit about investigative actions carried out after the indictment was approved. According to Ynet, the request was denied, and Mandelblit will not be questioned on the witness stand about investigative actions taken after the approvals he gave. Judge Moshe Bar-Am expressed reservations about the decision, but his position remained in the minority.

Netanyahu's attorney, Amit Hadad, argued that Mandelblit wrote incorrect things and relied on misleading information from investigation officials. According to Channel 14 (Ice/Ekhad), Hadad claimed that Mandelblit in fact decided on the carrying out of material actions, and demanded that he be questioned about investigative failures and about the action that was avoided in the examination of Hadas Klein's device. Prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh opposed the request and warned of "opening the door" to investigating prosecutors over their work processes.

Judge Bar-Am raised difficulties with the prosecution's position. According to Channel 14, the judge said: "I am not sure the court can ignore a version that points to unlawful actions." According to Israel Hayom, the judge said: "How can one ignore the fact that the attorney general came here and testified about unlawful actions?"