Ex-AG Mandelblit's Testimony Raises Questions on Netanyahu Trial Conduct
Translated & summarized from Mida by baba
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where his memory and knowledge of investigative procedures were questioned. Mandelblit stated he did not approve all actions taken during the investigations and was unaware of certain methods like wiretaps and Pegasus spyware. Defense attorneys suggested he was misled by the prosecution, while Mandelblit admitted to not following the trial closely and that leaks occurred without investigation.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Former AG Avichai Mandelblit testified in PM Netanyahu's trial, facing questions about investigative conduct.
- Mandelblit stated he did not approve all investigative actions and was unaware of certain methods.
- Defense suggested Mandelblit was misled by the prosecution during the investigations.
- Mandelblit admitted he had not read key evidence and did not closely follow the trial.
- It emerged that leaks of sensitive information occurred without proper investigation.
- Mandelblit's testimony contrasted with his earlier claims of a thorough investigation.
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in January 2020, testified in court for two days, facing scrutiny over the conduct of the investigations.
Mandelblit stated he had "a pretty good memory" of the case, but his testimony was marked by frequent "I don't remember" responses. He claimed that criminal investigations against the Prime Minister require his approval, and he was unaware of any that began without it. However, it emerged that Mandelblit did not know about all investigative actions taken, some of which he approved retroactively or informally. He admitted that "serious actions were taken that I did not approve in hindsight," including not being aware of wiretaps or the Pegasus spyware, and that he was unaware of the pressure exerted on state's witness Nir Hefetz.
Defense attorney Haddad suggested Mandelblit was "set up" and that "things were not revealed to you." Mandelblit maintained his trust in the prosecution, calling them his "long arm," but this trust appeared to erode during his testimony. It was revealed that Mandelblit had not read 315 articles from the Walla news site submitted as evidence and that his signature on the amended indictment may have been copied from the original. He also stated he did not check into improper investigation procedures, including potential leaks, to avoid disrupting the Netanyahu investigations.
Prosecutor Judith Tirosh was seen becoming agitated during questioning, at one point shouting. Haddad suggested that the prosecution "set up the legal advisor" and "filed an indictment." Mandelblit acknowledged that he "thought one prosecutor was leaking" and that leaks of "hidden details" occurred without investigation.
In contrast to his initial statement upon filing the indictment that "no stone was left unturned" in a "professional and in-depth" examination, Mandelblit's testimony suggested a lack of thoroughness and potential negligence in the investigations. He stated, "I asked to check, it wasn't checked," and notably, "I am not following the trial."
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