Former Judge Backs Dropping Netanyahu Bribery Charge Amid Prosecutors' Dispute

Former judge Oded Modrik, previously deputy president of the Tel Aviv District Court, has supported the panel of judges' recommendation to drop the bribery charge against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Case 4000. Modrik explained that the judges' intervention aims to prevent the prosecution from pursuing a path likely to end in failure, urging them to reconsider their approach. He noted that without confidence in securing a conviction, maintaining the indictment is pointless, and the prosecution's main remaining reason to continue is to preserve the option to appeal, as dropping the charge would result in an outright acquittal. However, Modrik questioned whether appealing under these circumstances is wise, given the legal turmoil it causes, and expressed hope that the prosecution will heed the judges' advice and retract the bribery charge.

Meanwhile, senior officials within the prosecution have rejected the judges' recommendation, accusing them of fueling Netanyahu's election campaign. They claim that after Netanyahu's cross-examination, the evidence supporting the bribery charge has actually strengthened, reinforcing the criminal intent required for conviction. Despite the judges' repeated suggestions to reconsider the bribery indictment, the prosecution currently has no plans to change course. They intend to further review the evidence and cross-examination but maintain their stance on the bribery offense.

Prosecutors also acknowledge the significant public and media impact of the judges' comments, anticipating that Netanyahu will leverage them politically. Consultations within the prosecution regarding the case's future and the judges' remarks are expected in the coming days.