Ex-AG Mandelblit Admits Not Reading All Evidence in Netanyahu Trial

Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified Sunday at the Jerusalem District Court, admitting he approved the amended indictment against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu without personally reading all the raw investigation materials and testimonies. "To say that I read every testimony, the answer is no," Mandelblit stated, explaining he relied on presentations from the prosecution. Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad, argued that the indictment was based on unverified data, including rejected coverage demands, suggesting Mandelblit was misled. Mandelblit defended his actions, stating he operated based on the information provided and that the trial itself is the venue for such disputes.

During questioning, Mandelblit was asked about a statement attributed to him that he would not have filed charges in Case 4000. He denied making such a statement, saying he saw it reported in the media and maintained that each case individually justified an indictment. Mandelblit also testified that he did not believe a written approval was necessary to open an investigation against Netanyahu, a statement that drew sharp criticism from journalist and politician Yaakov Bardugo, a candidate on the Likud party list. Bardugo tweeted that Mandelblit was either a liar, foolish, corrupt, or cowardly, or all of the above, calling him "psychotic" for believing a written approval was unnecessary.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was present in court to hear Mandelblit's testimony. Efi Nave, former Chairman of the Israel Bar Association, is also expected to testify at the request of Netanyahu's legal team.