Ex-AG Mandelblit Details Pre-Indictment Probes into Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified about preliminary investigations into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including allegations of primary election forgery and "Bibi Tours." Mandelblit confirmed authorizing probes before "reasonable suspicion" existed, stating some claims were later disproven. During cross-examination, Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad, suggested journalist Ben Caspit was a source for some allegations, leading to an argument with the prosecution.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former AG Avichai Mandelblit testified about pre-indictment probes into PM Netanyahu's alleged forgery and travel funding.
- Mandelblit confirmed authorizing preliminary examinations before "reasonable suspicion" for a full investigation.
- He stated that "fortunately, some of the suspicions were disproven" after review.
- Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad, named journalist Ben Caspit as a potential source of allegations.
- The testimony occurred during ongoing proceedings at the Jerusalem District Court.
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified in cross-examination about various suspicions examined against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the years preceding his indictment. These included allegations of forgery in primaries against Moshe Feiglin, double financing in elections, and the "Bibi Tours" affair concerning the funding of overseas trips.
Mandelblit confirmed that he authorized preliminary examinations even when suspicions had not yet reached the threshold for a full criminal investigation. He stated, "Fortunately, some of the suspicions were disproven." During the proceedings, Prime Minister Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad, raised the name of journalist Ben Caspit in connection with the source of some of the claims.
The discussion began with Haddad referencing a memo from January 5, 2021, detailing decision-making processes in the Netanyahu cases. Mandelblit outlined early-stage issues examined in Case 1000 and related matters, including the alleged forgery in the Likud primaries against Feiglin and claims of double financing and the "Bibi Tours" case.
Mandelblit clarified his legal distinction between preliminary checks and formal criminal investigations, explaining that he would authorize examinations of allegations or materials that might indicate a potential offense, even without "reasonable suspicion" for a full investigation at that stage. He noted that this approach was also used for initial information regarding the recording that formed the basis of Case 2000.
He emphasized that not all avenues explored were substantiated, stating, "Fortunately, some of the suspicions were disproven." However, he did not fully detail all findings that led to the dismissal of certain investigative directions during the cross-examination. A heated exchange occurred when Haddad named Ben Caspit as a potential source of information, which prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh objected to.
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