Ex-AG Mandelblit Grilled on Police Investigation Scope in Netanyahu Trial

The trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued Sunday at the Jerusalem District Court, with former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit facing intense questioning regarding the scope of approvals granted to police during investigations into the Prime Minister.

Judge Moshe Baram pressed Mandelblit on whether a "sweeping approval" was given to investigate the Prime Minister, to which Mandelblit responded negatively, explaining the approval was limited to investigating suspicions of receiving significant benefits from businessmen. Baram questioned if this amounted to giving police carte blanche and suggested a more explicit, organized written approval might have been preferable. Mandelblit maintained the approval pertained to a defined subject and remained valid, stating investigators were required to update him on significant developments but not seek approval for every action.

Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad, questioned Mandelblit about the approval to investigate the receipt of cigars and champagne. Mandelblit explained that initial information did not warrant a criminal investigation, but a change occurred following additional information, including testimony from Hadas Klein, assistant to businessman Arnon Milchan. Information about continuous gift-giving and the use of code names, suggesting concealment, led to the conclusion that a suspicion justifying investigation existed. Mandelblit emphasized the approval covered the examination of receiving extensive gifts, thus not exceeding the scope of the ongoing investigation.

Another issue raised concerned wiretapping of Natan Eshel, a Netanyahu confidant. Mandelblit stated he expected police to seek his approval before such a sensitive action and that the wiretapping ceased upon his learning of it. He explained that update meetings were held to inform investigators about significant developments, clarifying which actions required further approval within a general permit.