Lawyer Yoram Shaptel Criticizes Selective Enforcement in Netanyahu Trial

On Monday, attorney Yoram Shaptel sharply criticized the conduct of judges in the Benjamin Netanyahu trial, accusing them of blatant selective enforcement of the law. Shaptel argued that while Israeli courts generally do not follow legal procedures consistently, in Netanyahu's case the judges suddenly insist on strict adherence, which he views as unfair.

Shaptel attributed this selective enforcement to the impending retirement of Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman in less than two years. He noted that she is unlikely to issue a verdict soon because there are still around 100 defense witnesses to be heard, and the trial record will total approximately 70,000 pages, making a timely conclusion impossible without extensive preparation.

During the same court session, the judges considered requiring Netanyahu to appear in court five days a week, a proposal opposed by Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Hadad. Hadad argued that no other trial in Israel, except the Eichmann trial, has demanded such frequent attendance, and he himself was never required to appear daily to that extent.

The judges aim to accelerate the defense phase to complete it before Judge Friedman-Feldman's retirement in March 2028. The trial is being held at the Tel Aviv District Court. Shaptel's comments were made during a Channel 14 news broadcast, highlighting ongoing tensions over the trial's pace and judicial conduct.