Ex-AG Mandelblit Confirms Planned Meeting With News Anchor Before Netanyahu Trial Decision

Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit confirmed during cross-examination that he had a planned background meeting with senior News 12 anchor Dana Weiss shortly before a decision was to be made in the cases against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mandelblit stated that the conversation focused solely on the decision-making process and not on the evidence itself, describing the meeting as "not coincidental."

During the questioning, attorney Amit Haddad presented a News 12 report that allegedly detailed investigative steps and witness testimonies gathered "under the radar" prior to the official investigation. Haddad asked Mandelblit if he had authorized the collection of dozens of testimonies early on, even before the investigation began with a warning. Mandelblit responded that he did not recognize that description, recalling only that checks at the time concerned other matters, including "dual management."

Mandelblit also stated he was unaware of the connection between Rotenberg and Moses when he granted approvals for early stages of the investigations. He could not recall the number of polygraph tests conducted, explaining that an initial assessment was made to determine if there was reasonable suspicion to proceed with a full investigation. The key point from the discussion was Mandelblit's explicit confirmation that the background meeting with Weiss was initiated and planned, while reiterating that its subject was the decision-making process, not the evidence.