Netanyahu Trial: Former AG Testifies Amidst Political Barbs

The trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued Sunday at the Jerusalem District Court, with former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testifying during the defense's stage. Mandelblit, who decided to indict Netanyahu, was questioned about the timing and scope of his approval for the investigations against the Prime Minister. The defense aims to establish that certain actions were taken before Mandelblit's approval or exceeded its boundaries, while the prosecution maintains that Mandelblit authorized the investigation and its subsequent actions. The court has previously criticized the oral nature of Mandelblit's approval, which was not documented officially.

Mandelblit faced shouts and jeers from protesters before entering the courtroom. He reported being accosted by a Channel 11 journalist, stating he was not isolated from harassment and could not respond to false accusations. Among those present in the courtroom to support Netanyahu were Member of Knesset Tali Gottlieb, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, and former Bar Association head Afi Naeh.

Channel 12 commentator Barak Seri sharply criticized Sa'ar's presence, calling him a "cheerleader for Netanyahu" and a "disgrace." This remark references a past defamation lawsuit filed by Sa'ar against Seri. In that case, Sa'ar successfully sued Seri for alleging that the minister and his family had used public funds for a London vacation. The court ruled in Sa'ar's favor in the summer of 2026, awarding him 18,000 shekels and determining Seri's statements to be libelous, after Sa'ar proved he had paid for his travel expenses personally.