Ex-State Prosecutor's Secret Role in Netanyahu Probe Revealed

A former senior police investigator testified in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, revealing that former State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan acted as a secret informant in Case 4000. Superintendent Shimon Sharvit, former deputy commander of the National Fraud Investigations Unit, expressed surprise upon discovering that Nitzan had provided information to the investigation, which was then placed under a secrecy order. Sharvit stated, "It seemed illogical to me" to conceal the fact that the head of the prosecution system was providing information to the police.

During cross-examination by Netanyahu's defense attorney, Amit Hadad, Sharvit confirmed that confidential information from the investigation had been leaked to the press. When asked if he had taken action to investigate these leaks, Sharvit responded, "I don't recall." The defense is attempting to portray the investigation as flawed, arguing that it was based on problematic information from interested parties and involved improper contact with journalists.

Sharvit also addressed the police's relationship with journalists, acknowledging that while police are prohibited from using journalists as agents or regular informants to maintain journalistic integrity, he could not recall specific instances of police initiating contact with reporters like Ben Caspit and Raviv Drucker for information gathering. The defense claims that information provided by Caspit formed the basis for the investigation against Netanyahu.

Case 4000, also known as the "Bezeq-Walla affair," is one of three cases against Netanyahu. He is accused of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, alleging he advanced regulatory interests for Bezeq's controlling shareholder, Shaul Elovitch, in exchange for favorable coverage on the Walla news site. Netanyahu denies the charges, asserting his decisions were professional and that his relationship with Elovitch did not constitute a bribery deal.