Netanyahu Trial: Ex-Police Investigator Admits Meeting Journalist Without Approval

The trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued Monday at the Jerusalem District Court with the testimony of retired Superintendent Eran Kamin, former head of the Police Investigations Division and acting commander of the National Fraud Unit. Kamin, called by the defense, was involved in investigations concerning the Netanyahu family, including the "residences affair" which led to the conviction of Sara Netanyahu, and the handling of information preceding Case 1000.

Kamin testified that after the residences affair investigation, information related to what is now known as Case 1000 reached the police. He described a public atmosphere that viewed the Netanyahu family's conduct as "pig-like behavior." Regarding Case 2000, he stated that conversations were found on Ari Harow's phone, and the working assumption was that the indictment against Harow led to their discovery. Police estimated that an individual facing an indictment might provide more "goods" to improve their situation.

Kamin also revealed that he initiated a meeting with journalist Ben Caspit to gather information about the Netanyahu family before an official investigation was opened. He explained his view that such preliminary inquiries do not require the approval needed to open an investigation against a prime minister. During cross-examination, Kamin was confronted with his public statements against Netanyahu and the Likud party, admitting he had said they "operate like a crime organization."