Ex-AG Mandelblit Testifies He Didn't Know of Key Netanyahu Probe Actions
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified in the Netanyahu trial that he was unaware of key investigative actions by the Israel Securities Authority in 2017 concerning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The defense claims these actions required Mandelblit's approval, which was not obtained. Mandelblit expressed surprise and confidence in the prosecution, though he confirmed certain warrants would have needed his explicit consent. The hearing included a heated exchange between defense and prosecution lawyers, leading the judge to call them to her chambers.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Former AG Avichai Mandelblit testified he was unaware of key 2017 ISA investigative actions regarding PM Netanyahu.
- The defense claims these actions required Mandelblit's approval, which they allege was not sought.
- Mandelblit confirmed a search warrant for Iris Allovitch concerning Netanyahu would have needed his approval.
- He also testified he didn't know investigators were told not to question Netanyahu initially.
- The hearing featured a heated dispute between defense counsel Amit Haddad and prosecution's Yehudit Tirosh.
- The judge intervened, calling the lawyers to her chambers due to the personal nature of the argument.
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified in the Netanyahu trial that he was unaware of several investigative actions taken by the Israel Securities Authority (ISA) concerning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2017. The defense argues these actions required Mandelblit's approval under Basic Law: The Government, while the prosecution maintains approvals were lawfully granted. Defense counsel Amit Haddad suggested that "entire actions were done behind your back and without your approval in Case 4000," implying Mandelblit was misled. Mandelblit expressed surprise, stating, "I have full confidence in the prosecution, including the people sitting here," and that the State Prosecutor's Office was his "long arm."
Among the actions highlighted were ISA investigations, led by Eli Levy, into the Bezeq affair, which later became Case 4000. These included examining publications about Netanyahu on the Walla! news site and obtaining materials from Iris Allovitch's email regarding these publications. Mandelblit stated that if documents were obtained unlawfully, it would have implications but might not automatically disqualify evidence, depending on the context. He also affirmed that a search warrant for Allovitch's property concerning the Prime Minister would have required his explicit approval.
Mandelblit further confirmed he did not know that ISA investigators were instructed not to question Netanyahu during the initial phase of the Bezeq investigation. They were permitted to ask Shlomo Filber about receiving instructions and to gather information voluntarily provided by the subject. He reiterated that any open questions about Netanyahu would have required his consent.
Additionally, Mandelblit testified he was unaware of the ISA's attempts to turn Filber into a state witness in July 2017, coordinated with Liat Ben-Ari, then the Tax and Economic Affairs Prosecutor. The hearing saw heated exchanges between Haddad and Yehudit Tirosh, head of the prosecution team for Case 4000, with Haddad accusing the prosecution of misleading Mandelblit. Tirosh vehemently denied this, calling them personal attacks. Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman intervened, calling both legal teams to her chambers, a rare step taken due to the increasingly personal nature of the dispute.
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