Attorney Confronts Former AG Mandelblit Over Investigation Approvals in Case 1000

A heated exchange erupted in court during the cross-examination of former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, when attorney Amit Haddad, representing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, presented a protocol concerning investigation approvals in Case 1000. Haddad accused Mandelblit of hiding information, leading to sharp objections from the prosecution regarding the presentation of the document. The core of the dispute centered on whether Mandelblit had approved an investigation into the "cigar and champagne" affair specifically, or if the approval was limited to suspicions of receiving large-scale gifts. Haddad presented a segment of a protocol, which the defense claimed was not provided to them at the time, stating, "With all due respect to cigars, champagne, a suit, this is not the industry we think it might be." He further questioned why only nine out of dozens of meetings held had their protocols submitted to the defense. Mandelblit denied the allegations, stating, "What did we hide? We hid nothing." Prosecutor Yechiel Gilden argued that Haddad was presenting a partial excerpt taken out of context and that other protocols existed confirming approval for investigating benefits. Haddad reacted angrily, calling it a lie and accusing the prosecution of audacity for claiming he was misrepresenting the context. The judges intervened to calm the courtroom due to the intense exchange, leaving the dispute over the scope of approvals for Case 1000 unresolved.