Netanyahu's Lawyer Confronts Former AG Mandelblit Over Investigation Approval

During the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a heated exchange occurred between Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad, and former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit concerning the approval to investigate Netanyahu in Case 4000. Haddad presented redacted protocols, arguing they lacked clear documentation of the suspicions that led to the investigation's authorization. Mandelblit acknowledged a "glitch" in the document but maintained he had given the necessary approval. When Haddad directly asked what the specific suspicion against Netanyahu was in February 2018, Mandelblit reportedly froze for a moment before responding.

The core of the dispute centered on the documentation of the investigation's approval. Haddad highlighted a February 5, 2018, protocol, parts of which were blacked out, questioning how the investigators' mandate and specific suspicions could be determined. Mandelblit admitted difficulty recalling the exact sequence of approvals and meeting dates, stating, "There is a glitch in the document, I don't know when it was, I'm not sure if it was January or December. I'm speaking from memory."

Haddad contended that the presented documents contradicted Mandelblit's testimony and accused him of including inaccuracies in a memo. Mandelblit, in turn, stated he did not remember certain details with certainty. The defense lawyer also presented a protocol excerpt where a statement about being ready to "break out within a week, at most two weeks" appeared, along with a reference to investigating the Prime Minister concurrently with other involved parties. Mandelblit clarified that the discussion clearly concerned the investigation of Netanyahu under caution, aligning with his memory, though he conceded that more parts of the protocol might have warranted disclosure.

A significant confrontation arose when Haddad presented a January 5, 2021, memo by Mandelblit detailing the approval. In it, Mandelblit wrote that on February 5, 2018, he authorized the investigation of the Prime Minister as a suspect in bribery offenses in Case 4000 and instructed him to be summoned for questioning, noting the approval was documented in the meeting protocol. Haddad insisted, "It is not documented," to which Mandelblit retorted, "It is documented."

Mandelblit insisted that he could not have agreed to question the Prime Minister under caution without knowing the suspicions, as the discussion itself indicated the suspicions had been presented to him. The defense requested all approvals for Case 4000, including redacted portions, leading Haddad to question if there was an unwillingness to reveal the full documents. The most dramatic moment occurred when Haddad asked, "What was the suspicion on 5.2.18? What is the allegation against him?" Mandelblit paused before detailing suspicions related to the relationship between Netanyahu and businessman Shaul Elovitch, the former controlling shareholder of Bezeq and the Walla website, involving influence over media coverage for political advantage in exchange for regulatory benefits.