Minister Sa'ar Slams Prosecution in Netanyahu Trial as 'Worthless'

Minister Gideon Sa'ar sharply criticized the prosecution's conduct in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, following the first day of testimony from former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Sa'ar stated that the proceedings had become "worthless" based on what he heard in court. He recalled that over three years ago, when the court suggested reconsidering the bribery charge, he had called for the trial to end, describing it as a "farce."

Sa'ar argued that Mandelblit's testimony raised questions about the actions preceding the indictment. He cited Mandelblit's own statements that certain actions were illegal or done "behind his back without his approval," and that he himself admitted to not verifying certain journalistic reports that formed the basis of the bribery allegations. "The things that were heard today from the former Attorney General, when he defines things as illegal or things done behind his back without his approval, and on the other hand things he himself admits he did not check before the indictment was filed, journalistic publications that were the basis for the bribery claim, bring the trial to a place that is worthless," Sa'ar said.

He added that the prosecution needed to conduct a "real soul-searching." Sa'ar emphasized that the issues raised by the testimony were not dependent on political views regarding Netanyahu, urging "any decent person, regardless of support for or opposition to Netanyahu, to consider whether the things that came up in court are things a democratic state can accept."

When asked why he attended the hearing, despite previously suggesting politicians should not attend Netanyahu's trial, Sa'ar explained he did not intervene in the proceedings. He encouraged anyone who values the justice system and its reform to attend and hear the testimony firsthand.