Mandelblit Testifies Amid Sharp Dispute Over Netanyahu Investigation Approvals
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial, facing sharp questioning from Netanyahu's lawyer over approvals for investigations. Mandelblit stated he remembers approving investigations into Netanyahu for integrity offenses and possibly bribery in Case 4000, but admitted he doesn't recall the exact wording. The defense argued that documents presented did not constitute explicit approval, while Mandelblit maintained his recollection. The court will determine the significance of the documents and testimony.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial.
- Mandelblit stated he remembers approving investigations into Netanyahu for integrity offenses.
- He also recalled approving investigations possibly related to bribery in Case 4000.
- Netanyahu's lawyer argued that presented documents did not constitute explicit investigation approval.
- Mandelblit admitted he does not remember the exact wording of the approvals.
- The court will decide the weight of Mandelblit's testimony and the presented documents.
A heated confrontation occurred Tuesday in the Jerusalem District Court during the testimony of former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The core issue was the nature of approvals Mandelblit granted for the investigation into Netanyahu concerning the "Cases of the Thousand," and whether these approvals matched the documents presented to the court.
Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad, questioned Mandelblit about approval documents, including one from February 5, 2018, largely blacked out. Haddad argued that the prosecution's documents did not constitute explicit approval for an investigation but rather recorded discussions and investigative actions. "This is not an approval. They tried to make us think this is an approval from the Attorney General to open an investigation. What approval is here? This is investigative material," Haddad stated.
Prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh objected to expanding the inquiry to later-submitted documents, asserting the agreement was for Mandelblit to testify about his approvals, not about documents submitted later by court order. Mandelblit, however, stated, "I remember approving the Prime Minister's investigation." He recalled approving investigations into Netanyahu for offenses related to integrity, and specifically for Case 4000, he remembered the approval also covered bribery, though he was uncertain about the exact wording.
When pressed by Haddad, Mandelblit maintained he remembered approving investigations for integrity offenses, even if not explicitly detailed in protocols. Haddad countered, "There is no integrity. I say he doesn't remember. This is an invention." The exchange highlighted the defense's attempt to show a discrepancy between Mandelblit's recollection and the documented evidence, while the court will ultimately decide the weight of both.
Notable attendees included former Bar Association Chairman Efi Naveh and Yifat Ben-Hagai, who had previously testified in Case 4000. Mandelblit's testimony continues as the defense scrutinizes the approval process for the Prime Minister's investigations.
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