Netanyahu's Lawyers Summon Former Attorney General Mandelblit to Testify
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's defense team has informed the court that former government legal advisor Avichai Mandelblit will be the next defense witness in Netanyahu's corruption trial. Mandelblit is scheduled to testify starting October 11, with the requested dates falling close to the Knesset election date.
The defense's request, submitted on Thursday, September 17, asks the court to issue an order summoning Mandelblit to testify on October 11, October 12, and from October 18 to October 22. The next Knesset elections are scheduled for October 27, 2026.
Mandelblit has not yet testified in the trial. As the former government legal advisor, he approved the investigations against Netanyahu and made the decision to indict him on charges in Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000.
Similar to the current legal advisor, Gali Baharav-Miara, Mandelblit faced criticism from the Likud party and its allies during his tenure. In a video conference on January 28, 2021, about a year before leaving his post, Mandelblit stated, "We have encountered the spread of deliberately false information, baseless accusations, slander, and irresponsible statements that can only be described as a blood libel." He pointed to two dangerous trends in Israel: attempts to question the loyalty of legal professionals to the state and politicians' pursuit of unlimited power.
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.