Netanyahu lashes out in court during cross-examination over Case 2000

A dramatic session unfolded Tuesday in the Tel Aviv District Court, on the final day of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cross-examination, as prosecutors pressed him on alleged inconsistencies in his testimony in Case 2000. The case centers on Netanyahu’s dealings with Arnon (Noni) Mozes, the publisher of Yedioth Ahronoth, and the hearing turned heated after the judges had already rejected a defense request to shorten the session.

Netanyahu argued that no crime had been created, saying former Deputy Attorney General Raz Nizri had once thought there was no offense and that even President Reuven Rivlin was shocked by the claim. He insisted that contacts between politicians and the press are not a criminal matter, calling the case a dangerous retroactive invention. Asked about alleged threats or extortion from Mozes, Netanyahu said this was common journalistic practice and that he wanted to record Mozes “mucking around” in the matter.

Prosecutor Yoni Tadmor then confronted Netanyahu with what he described as a major shift between his courtroom account and earlier police testimony. In court, Netanyahu said he sought to buy time to advance a softer version of the “Israel Hayom” law or to help facilitate a sale of the paper. Tadmor responded with Netanyahu’s prior statements, including that he was “in the war,” needed to “buy time,” and was thinking ahead to the coming election campaign. Netanyahu said he meant stopping attacks on his family, not media coverage, and grew angry, saying the reports were “smears,” not coverage.

The confrontation peaked when Tadmor said the recordings showed a clear bribery offer to a sitting prime minister. Netanyahu shouted back that the prosecution had “invented an offense,” acted like a “police state” and “Stasi,” and would spend the rest of their lives in court. He said, “You have criminalized everything,” and accused the state of political persecution.

Later, prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh linked Case 2000 to Case 4000, arguing that in both matters Netanyahu acted toward publishers because of their coverage. Netanyahu rejected the comparison, saying Case 2000 involved a political survival battle with Mozes, while in Case 4000 he had not heard from Shaul Elovitch and was fighting to protect Israel Hayom from being shut down.