Netanyahu Trial Investigator Claims He Was Told Yeshua's Case Wouldn't Go to Trial

During testimony in the Benjamin Netanyahu corruption trial on Thursday, police investigator Tzachi Ben Hamo revealed an unusual exchange with the case's chief investigator, Superintendent Yoav Talem. Ben Hamo stated that he had raised concerns about the status of Ilan Yeshua, the former CEO of the Walla news site and a key prosecution witness in Case 4000. Ben Hamo testified that he believed Yeshua should have been questioned under caution as a suspect and that supporting evidence needed to be gathered for his testimony. However, he was reportedly told by Talem, "It won't go to trial."

The status of Yeshua has been a focal point of allegations throughout the proceedings, with claims that he received treatment akin to a state's witness without formal designation. These claims relate to his alleged involvement in the bribery scheme attributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Walla owner Shaul Elovitch. Yeshua himself was not indicted and later testified for the prosecution.

Ben Hamo elaborated that during the investigation, he identified difficulties concerning Yeshua's standing and the evidentiary weight of his statements. "I said that if we want to move forward with him, he needs to be cautioned and we need to bring supporting evidence," Ben Hamo testified. He added that they would "have to deal with the weight of the alleged evidence of the things he is saying in those open statements in court."

When asked about Talem's response, Ben Hamo succinctly replied, "It won't go to trial." He confirmed that he had raised the issue with Talem, explaining, "Yes, that's his job." The judge, Baram, intervened to ask Ben Hamo if he hadn't felt it important to clarify why the handling of the case deviated from the norm. Ben Hamo responded, "Sir, I asked. I was told there was approval from the Attorney General."

Ben Hamo's statements bring renewed attention to questions raised during the trial about how Yeshua was handled during the investigation, particularly why he was not cautioned despite the difficulties Ben Hamo noted. The prosecution, however, rejected these claims and their implications. In response to the court exchange, the prosecution stated that Ben Hamo misunderstood the situation at the time and continues to misunderstand it. They clarified that Yeshua was never promised anything, never had the status of a state's witness, and his status has not changed.