High Court Questions Netanyahu’s Role in Second-Channel Council Appointment

Israel’s High Court of Justice heard five petitions on Tuesday challenging the appointment of a new Second Authority council headed by Dr. Yifat Ben Hai Shag. The case centers on reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took part in the vote backing her appointment, even though she is a prosecution witness in Case 4000 and had previously made changes in her testimony that appeared to help him.

Justice Alex Stein sharply criticized the prime minister’s involvement, saying, “As long as the trial is ongoing, the prime minister is not allowed to deal with the matter.” He added that Ben Haim Shag remains a prosecution witness until the trial ends, and that “as long as the trial is ongoing, the prime minister may not deal with the issue” and should not create contact with prosecution witnesses.

Netanyahu’s lawyer, Amit Hadad, argued that the controversy might have been avoided if the government had not disregarded the attorney general’s request to wait. “What was the rush?” he asked, noting that the decision was made “in the middle of a war” and suggesting that waiting for a legal opinion could have prevented the hearing.

The article recalls that during Netanyahu’s ongoing criminal trial, Ben Haim Shag changed her testimony in a way that benefited him. After that, prosecutors asked to declare her a hostile witness, but the request was rejected. The trial judges did, however, allow the prosecution to cross-examine her. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has said Netanyahu acted in a conflict of interest when voting on the appointment and is now examining the implications of that violation.