Netanyahu Trial: Key Question on Investigation Approvals to be Examined in Mandelblit's Testimony

Former Attorney General Dr. Avichai Mandelblit is set to testify in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a development that comes nearly a decade after Mandelblit was appointed to his position. Mandelblit, who served as Government Secretary before becoming Attorney General in early 2016, was appointed to the latter role partly due to his close working relationship with Netanyahu. His tenure as Government Secretary lasted over two and a half years.

Mandelblit officially opened a preliminary review into suspicions against the Prime Minister in July 2016, which later escalated into a full investigation by December of that year, ultimately leading to Netanyahu's indictment. The core of Mandelblit's testimony is expected to revolve around the decision-making process for initiating investigations against Netanyahu and the precise timing and scope of his approvals for these probes.

This focus stems from a crucial clause in Israel's Basic Law: The Government, which stipulates that a criminal investigation against the Prime Minister can only commence with the Attorney General's consent. The defense is expected to scrutinize whether all necessary approvals were obtained in writing and at the correct times, as any procedural violation could potentially impact the validity of evidence and the trial's outcome.

Concerns have been raised that many approvals were granted verbally or through poorly documented discussions, making it difficult to establish exact dates and the full extent of the granted permissions. Mandelblit's testimony, scheduled to last seven days, is anticipated to be challenging as he faces questions about these potentially irregular procedures. The evidence and statements presented during his testimony could significantly influence the final verdict of the trial.