Netanyahu Shouts at Prosecutor in Tel Aviv Court Session

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised his voice at prosecutor Yonatan Tadmor during a hearing in his trial on Tuesday at the Tel Aviv District Court, in the cross-examination phase of Case 2000. Judges repeatedly asked him to lower his voice, but Netanyahu kept interrupting, slammed the table, and shouted, “Police state, Stasi, political persecution!”

The outburst came after Tadmor confronted Netanyahu with changes in his version of events about conversations he held with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon “Noni” Mozes. Netanyahu responded that investigators had done “what you have not done to any public figure” and accused them of using spyware and building a campaign to bring down a prime minister. He said, “The pretending that you did not lay nets to catch [people]. You violated all the laws.”

Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman tried to calm the exchange and told him to answer the question, saying, “Mr. Netanyahu, answer the question, we can continue.” Netanyahu continued shouting that the proceedings would keep the court busy for days, and repeated, “Everyone says this is a police state! Stasi! Political persecution!”

At that point, the cross-examination in Cases 1000 and 2000 ended. A short follow-up cross-examination in Case 4000 is now expected. Netanyahu asked for a break for an important Zoom call, and the hearing was suspended.