Ex-AG Mandelblit Testifies on Wiretaps, Angered by Lack of Approval

Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified for the sixth time on Sunday in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, focusing on police investigation methods in the "Cases of the Thousand." During the proceedings at the Jerusalem District Court, Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad, questioned Mandelblit about secret wiretaps placed on Natan Eshel, a close associate of the Prime Minister. Mandelblit stated he was angered upon discovering the wiretaps, which he had demanded be stopped. "It really angered me when it turned out that's what happened, and it was indeed stopped," he said, adding that the situation was unprecedented and should have been brought to his attention beforehand. When asked if he investigated the matter further, Mandelblit said he did not recall. He emphasized the need for extreme caution when authorizing surveillance on individuals not currently in office, especially those handling sensitive political and state affairs for the Prime Minister, noting the potential for political implications. Prosecutor Alon Gildin objected to further inquiry into the wiretaps, arguing Mandelblit was unaware of them when they occurred. The judges questioned Haddad's line of questioning, but he insisted it was part of a broader context, suggesting that the wiretaps on Eshel were part of larger investigations against the Prime Minister that proceeded without the Attorney General's approval. Haddad also presented quotes from previous instances where Mandelblit dismissed suspicions of Netanyahu receiving favors, questioning why investigations were initiated. Mandelblit explained that while public officials, particularly the Prime Minister, cannot be left under a cloud of suspicion, initial investigations are necessary to either disprove or substantiate allegations, even if they initially seem far-fetched. The defense had initially estimated Mandelblit's testimony would span seven court sessions, but Haddad later indicated a need for an additional ten sessions without providing a reason. During the first day of testimony, prosecutor Yonatan Tadmor acknowledged that while an Attorney General's testimony is unusual, the prosecution did not object due to the case's circumstances, citing legal precedents that caution against scrutinizing prosecution actions, which could be used for personal attacks or deter internal deliberations.