Mandelblit Denies Knowledge of Key Emails in Netanyahu Trial
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial, clashing with prosecutors over his knowledge of key emails. Mandelblit stated he does not recall seeing specific emails presented by the defense, contradicting the prosecution's claim that he was aware of them and made decisions. The defense argued these emails were collected unlawfully before official approval for investigating Netanyahu, while Mandelblit maintained he did not authorize such an investigation at the time.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified he does not recall seeing key emails in the Netanyahu corruption trial.
- The prosecution claims Mandelblit was presented with emails concerning Netanyahu and "Walla" coverage.
- The defense argues these emails were collected unlawfully before Mandelblit approved an investigation.
- Mandelblit stated he did not authorize an investigation against the Prime Minister in June or July.
- A dispute also arose over a search warrant for Iris Elovitch, which the defense claims targeted Netanyahu's coverage.
- Mandelblit stated he was unaware of the Iris Elovitch search warrant at the time.
A dispute erupted in the Jerusalem District Court during the cross-examination of former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in the corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Prosecutor Judith Tirosh claimed that emails concerning Netanyahu and "Walla" news site coverage were presented to Mandelblit during an investigation expansion request, and that he made a decision regarding them. However, Mandelblit testified that he does not recognize the specific documents presented by defense attorney Amit Haddad and does not recall if they were personally shown to him.
The controversy intensified when Haddad presented emails allegedly obtained in July 2017, before Mandelblit's approval for investigating suspicions against Netanyahu. Haddad questioned if Mandelblit authorized the collection of these materials and if he was informed they were gathered unlawfully. Tirosh countered, stating that Mandelblit reviewed the materials and decided not to expand the investigation into bribery suspicions against Netanyahu based on the emails, though he did approve an expansion concerning Shlomo Filber.
Mandelblit stated he generally assumes materials presented to him were lawfully obtained and does not recall being informed of any unlawful collection. He reiterated that he did not authorize an investigation against the Prime Minister in June or July, which he considers the crucial point. The defense presented a binder labeled "Walla, Sensitive Material," which Haddad argued demonstrated investigators deliberately collected materials related to Netanyahu before official approval, a claim Mandelblit denied knowing.
Further disputes arose over a search warrant from June 2017 for Iris Elovitch, Shaul Elovitch's wife, which the defense claims was used to find emails related to Netanyahu's coverage, despite no approval for such an investigation at the time. Mandelblit stated he was unaware of this warrant. The prosecution argued the warrants were part of the original "Bezeq" investigation and did not specifically target Netanyahu's coverage, while the defense cited witness testimony and documents to support their claim.
Mentioned
