Netanyahu Trial: Mandelblit's Testimony Reveals Irregularities and Lack of Oversight

During his third day of testimony in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit faced intense questioning from Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad. The proceedings revealed significant irregularities concerning the authorization of investigations, particularly regarding the suspicion of bribery. Mandelblit initially claimed to recall the case well but struggled to remember if he had specifically authorized an investigation into Netanyahu for bribery, though he recalled Netanyahu being warned. A key point of contention was a protocol stating Mandelblit agreed for police to examine claims of criminal offenses related to "integrity of conduct." Haddad argued this protocol was created retroactively and the term "integrity of conduct" was used to label the investigation, which Mandelblit eventually conceded was initially authorized only for offenses like breach of trust.

Haddad also presented claims of improper motives behind the indictment, citing a purported conversation where Mandelblit allegedly told Deputy Attorney General Yehudit Tirosh that Netanyahu would cause a "regime coup" and asked if she preferred to be a prosecutor in a case that "saved democracy." Judge Baram intervened, questioning the relevance of such considerations and stating that if a prosecutor files an indictment out of hatred for the Prime Minister, it should not be overlooked. Mandelblit's testimony further indicated a lack of direct involvement and awareness of key investigative actions. He admitted that crucial details, such as recordings found on the phone of former Netanyahu chief of staff Ari Harow related to Case 2000, were not presented to him. These recordings involved alleged attempts by Netanyahu to influence media coverage. Haddad also highlighted that the investigation into Case 1000 began without proper authorization, with Mandelblit acknowledging that no approval existed in April 2016 when the investigation commenced.

The defense also raised concerns about potential external pressure and leaks influencing Mandelblit's decisions. Journalist Ben Caspit was mentioned as potentially involved in information gathering for the prosecution, a claim Caspit denies. Furthermore, Mandelblit admitted that a staged encounter with journalist Dana Weiss, presented as coincidental in a Channel 12 report, was actually arranged by his spokesperson to discuss the investigations, suggesting a coordinated media campaign. He also acknowledged providing Weiss with background information and potentially reviewing interview drafts.

Additional revelations included the investigation into the Prime Minister's official residence (Case 1100) being expanded without explicit authorization, and the lead investigator in that case being the partner of the sister of Noni Moses, a key figure in Case 2000 and a known adversary of Netanyahu. Mandelblit also appeared unaware of these conflicts of interest. Regarding Ari Harow, Haddad questioned the basis for his detention and designation as a state witness, with Mandelblit repeatedly stating he did not remember key details about the authorization process and the investigation's scope, leading Haddad to express discomfort with Mandelblit's apparent lack of memory and oversight.