Ex-AG Mandelblit Claims Journalist Ben Caspit 'Operated the Police'

Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified on Wednesday in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sparking controversy in the courtroom. During his cross-examination by Netanyahu's lawyer Amit Haddad, Mandelblit addressed journalist Ben Caspit's alleged involvement in providing information to the police, suspicions of leaks from law enforcement, and the approvals he granted for investigating Netanyahu in the "Cases of the Century." Mandelblit stated that he had a "feeling that instead of the police investigating, he was operating the police," referring to Caspit. This remark came up during discussions about the early stages of Case 1000, where Netanyahu is accused of fraud and breach of trust for allegedly receiving benefits from businessmen Arnon Milchan and James Packer.

Haddad questioned Mandelblit about whether he knew that former National Fraud Unit head Eran Kamin allegedly used Caspit to gather information on Netanyahu, including through background conversations for a book. Mandelblit replied that he was not informed of this. When asked about the principle of police investigators using journalists as their "long arm," Mandelblit clarified that while investigators shouldn't use journalists this way, journalists conducting their own independent investigations is permissible. He reiterated that journalists should not be used as an extension of the police, distinguishing this from independent investigative work.

Haddad also claimed that senior police officials pressured Caspit to provide information on Netanyahu, quoting Caspit as saying he "yielded to pressure" to cooperate with the police. Mandelblit stated he was unaware of such pressure. Regarding gifts allegedly received by Netanyahu, such as cigars and champagne from Milchan, Mandelblit recalled a probe into gifts from businessmen but not specific details due to the passage of time.

The discussion also touched upon suspicions of leaks from law enforcement aimed at advancing investigations against Netanyahu. Mandelblit acknowledged that he might have suspected pressure from within the system to expedite investigations into the Prime Minister. He stated he could not recall specific past statements but confirmed potential suspicions towards both the State Prosecutor's Office and the police. He explained his cautious approach, emphasizing adherence to the law and evidence, and did not recall ordering an investigation into the leaks.

Mandelblit also addressed a meeting with Channel 12 reporter Dana Weiss in January 2019, which he confirmed was a planned background discussion about the decision-making process, not about specific evidence. He also testified about not knowing of a connection between police investigator Avi Rotenberg and Judi Nir Moses, Arnon Mozes's sister, during the approval of investigation actions against Netanyahu. He stated he did not recall details of the alleged conduct presented by the defense.

Regarding the approvals for investigating Netanyahu in Cases 1000, 2000, and 4000, Mandelblit recalled approving investigations under caution in all three cases at two different times. He stated that while he clearly remembered approving investigations for breach of trust in Cases 1000 and 2000, and likely for Case 4000, he was unsure if the word "bribery" was explicitly used in the approval for Case 4000. Haddad challenged this, presenting documents that did not mention bribery concerning Netanyahu. Mandelblit maintained that he remembers approving the investigations, even if the specific wording wasn't in the presented protocols. He explained that the phrasing in the Case 4000 approval, which mentioned "offenses from the realm of integrity of conduct" for Netanyahu and bribery for Shaul Elovitch, was intended to allow for discretion between bribery and breach of trust as the investigation progressed. Judge Moshe Bar-Am questioned the use of "convoluted wording" in Netanyahu's case. Mandelblit clarified that the wording allowed for examination of different offenses based on the investigation's development. The indictment in Case 4000 ultimately included bribery charges alongside fraud and breach of trust.

During a break, an incident occurred outside the courtroom where a woman shouted at Mandelblit, and Likud activist Rami Ben Yehuda also yelled at a journalist before being removed by security. The prosecution requested that no further outbursts occur, and the judges emphasized the need for security around Mandelblit. Haddad also condemned such behavior.