Netanyahu's Likud Party Denounces Trial as Political Persecution

The Likud party issued a sharp response to developments in the testimony of former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit during the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In an official statement, the party asserted that the revelations in Mandelblit's testimony prove the trial is a politically motivated "witch hunt" aimed at removing a strong right-wing prime minister.

Likud claimed that Netanyahu, his wife, sons, and associates have endured years of suffering, and that the legal proceedings led to five costly elections. The party criticized the indictment process, alleging that Mandelblit did not even review the evidence before approving the filing, signing off with a scanned signature while Netanyahu was representing Israel at the White House. They also attacked Mandelblit's reaction to criticism, noting his complaint about journalist Ayelet Shasson asking him a question and his alleged role in imprisoning a religious woman on Shabbat for shouting slogans.

The party further accused Mandelblit of allowing incitement against the Prime Minister and his family for years, despite knowing the truth. Likud called for an immediate halt to the trial proceedings following Mandelblit's testimony and for the dismissal of the charges, which they described as illegally fabricated. Additionally, they demanded a criminal investigation into all individuals involved in the prosecution, including Mandelblit, Shai Nitzan, Judith Tirosh, Liat Ben Ari, Roni Alsheich, and the investigators.