Former Witness in Netanyahu Trial Reacts to Mandelblit Testimony
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Yifat Ben-Haim Givon, a former prosecution witness in Case 4000, was disturbed by former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit's testimony, which she believes proves political motivations behind the trial. She cited Mandelblit's alleged comparison of a prosecutor's role to saving democracy and his repeated claims of not remembering details as particularly shocking. Ben-Haim Givon, who had advised approving the Bezeq-Yes merger, stated the trial has become a case against Israel's law enforcement system, and suggested a legal maneuver to halt it might be warranted.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Former witness Yifat Ben-Haim Givon says Avichai Mandelblit's testimony proved political motives in Case 4000.
- Ben-Haim Givon was shocked by Mandelblit's alleged "save democracy" comment to a prosecutor.
- She criticized Mandelblit's testimony for repeated claims of not remembering key details.
- Ben-Haim Givon believes the trial has become a case against Israel's law enforcement system.
- She suggested a legal move to halt the trial might now be appropriate.
- The former witness also criticized media coverage of Mandelblit's testimony.
Yifat Ben-Haim Givon, who previously testified for the prosecution in Case 4000, attended the testimony of former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and emerged deeply disturbed. She stated that Mandelblit's revelations reinforced her claims of political motivations behind the case, feeling her own previous testimony was "gentle and forgiving" in comparison. Ben-Haim Givon, formerly chair of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council, expressed shock at Mandelblit's statements, suggesting that even the judges were stunned by what was revealed in court.
One particular moment that shocked Ben-Haim Givon was a quote from a conversation between Mandelblit and prosecutor Yudit Tirosh. According to Ben-Haim Givon, Mandelblit was trying to persuade Tirosh to take on the role of prosecutor in the trial, framing the choice as between being a prosecutor who "saves democracy" or a judge in a dictatorship like Hungary or Poland. Ben-Haim Givon found this statement astonishing, especially since it went unrefuted.
Beyond this specific remark, Ben-Haim Givon criticized Mandelblit's repeated use of phrases like "I don't remember, I don't know, I didn't see, I didn't hear, and I didn't know" during his testimony. She described this pattern as unprofessional and sloppy, especially for a case against a prime minister, and stated that it proved her earlier assessment of political motivations behind the trial beyond any doubt.
Ben-Haim Givon, who had recommended approving the merger between Bezeq and Yes, maintained that her decision was based on professional considerations and not bribery. She believes the trial has become a case against the law enforcement system itself, noting that the judges had previously urged the prosecution to drop the bribery charge, a plea that was ignored. She suggested that a legal move for "defense from justice" might now be appropriate.
She also criticized the media for not giving Mandelblit's testimony adequate attention, attributing this to close ties between law enforcement and mainstream media outlets, which she described as a mutually beneficial relationship involving leaks and favorable coverage.
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