Former Police Official Admits to Unauthorized Wiretaps on Netanyahu Associates

A former deputy commander of the Lahav 433's National Fraud and Economic Crime Unit (Yahav) has admitted that wiretaps were conducted on associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu without proper authorization. The admission came during a hearing in Netanyahu's corruption trial. The former official, whose name has been redacted, stated that the wiretaps were carried out under the authority of the unit's commander at the time, without the necessary judicial approval.

This revelation emerged during discussions concerning the evidence presented by the prosecution, specifically relating to alleged illegal surveillance activities. The defense team has been seeking to challenge the legality of the evidence gathered against Netanyahu, arguing that some of it was obtained through improper means. The former Yahav official's testimony directly supports these claims, suggesting a potential compromise of the evidence's admissibility.

The court is currently deliberating on the implications of this admission for the trial. The prosecution has been asked to provide further explanations regarding the circumstances surrounding the wiretaps. The defense is expected to use this admission to argue for the dismissal of certain charges or evidence. The trial, which resumed on Sunday, is focused on allegations of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust against Netanyahu.