Mandelblit Admits Planned Meeting with Journalist in Netanyahu Trial
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit admitted in the Netanyahu trial that a street meeting with Channel 12 journalist Dana Weiss was planned. His lawyer, Amit Haddad, questioned Mandelblit about his media interactions during his testimony. Weiss later confirmed that Mandelblit had no editorial input on the report that followed the meeting.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Former AG Mandelblit admitted a street meeting with journalist Dana Weiss was pre-arranged.
- The admission came during Mandelblit's testimony in the ongoing Benjamin Netanyahu corruption trial.
- Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad, questioned Mandelblit about his media interactions.
- Dana Weiss stated Mandelblit had no editorial control or preview of her report.
- Haddad sought to show discrepancies between Mandelblit's media conduct and trial allegations.
A heated exchange occurred in the Jerusalem District Court on Wednesday during the fourth day of testimony by former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in the Benjamin Netanyahu trial. The Prime Minister's lawyer, Amit Haddad, focused his cross-examination on Mandelblit's interactions with journalists, seeking to highlight discrepancies between his media conduct and the allegations in Case 4000.
The discussion centered on a background briefing Mandelblit held with Channel 12 journalist Dana Weiss before a report aired in January 2019. Haddad contended that the report contained precise details from internal discussions within the Attorney General's office, stating the defense had been seeking related materials for months.
Mandelblit acknowledged that his meeting with Weiss, which he described as a seemingly spontaneous street encounter, was in fact pre-arranged. "The meeting with Dana Weiss on the street was not accidental. It was the spokesperson's suggestion. He suggested we walk down the street and pretend to say hello. That's what he suggested and I accepted," Mandelblit stated.
He defended such briefings as legitimate for explaining matters without analyzing evidence. Haddad disagreed, asserting that Mandelblit did indeed delve into evidence and details. Weiss herself responded, clarifying that Mandelblit or his representatives had no editorial control over the report, did not preview it, and no documents were shared during its preparation.
