Tense Exchange Erupts in Netanyahu Trial Over Redacted Document

A heated exchange occurred in the Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday between Amit Haddad, the lawyer for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and prosecutor Judith Tirosh during the third day of testimony from former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. The confrontation centered on a redacted name in a 2018 internal document.

Haddad questioned why the identity of a speaker who suggested investigating Netanyahu under caution was blacked out in a document provided to the defense. Tirosh initially objected to the question, leading to a request to remove Mandelblit from the courtroom for a legal discussion. Haddad clarified he was not necessarily seeking the individual's exact identity but rather the reason for withholding information crucial to the defense.

Following a remark from Judge Oded Shaham Bar-Am regarding the possibility of identifying those involved in the redaction, Tirosh withdrew her objection. Haddad then pressed Mandelblit on the decision to obscure the speaker's name, arguing it was significant for understanding the investigation's conduct. He contended that knowing who made the statement, "It's best to investigate the Prime Minister alongside everyone else," was material evidence.

Haddad also criticized the prosecution's initial approach to providing documents, suggesting they attempted to rely on general memos before being compelled by the court to present original documents revealing extensive redactions. When Haddad reiterated his demand for a clear explanation regarding the redacted speaker, Tirosh objected once more.

Mandelblit's testimony is proceeding amidst several dramatic issues raised in previous hearings, including allegations of investigative actions taken without his approval, the defense's claim of a forged signature on the amended indictment, and Mandelblit's admission that he did not personally review all 315 coverage incidents in Case 4000.