Netanyahu Trial: Court Rejects Bid to Expand Mandelblit Cross-Examination

The Jerusalem District Court, by a majority decision, rejected a request by the defense in the Netanyahu trial to expand the cross-examination of former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. The defense sought to question Mandelblit about investigative actions taken after he authorized the opening of investigations against the Prime Minister, beyond the scope of his initial approvals. The decision followed a dispute between the defense and prosecution, during which Judge Moshe Bar-Am sharply criticized attempts to limit the inquiry. Defense attorney Amit Haddad argued that if Mandelblit were asked the right questions, the trial could conclude, suggesting that a "procedural claim" could lead to the indictment's dismissal. Haddad asserted that material facts were concealed from Mandelblit, including evidence that witness Shlomo Filber's testimony about a "guidance call" was inaccurate, and a letter from Mandelblit to Avi Chimhi stating no improper actions were taken against state witnesses. Prosecutor Judith Tirosh opposed the expansion, arguing that internal prosecution work processes should not be examined in court and warning against setting a precedent. However, Judge Bar-Am expressed a different view, stating that "the door has already been opened" and that Mandelblit's testimony suggested deeper investigation was needed, questioning how one could "ignore that the Attorney General came here and testified about illegal actions." Following deliberations, Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman announced the majority decision to accept the state's objection, thus denying the defense's request to broaden the questioning beyond the approval stage. Judge Bar-Am was in the minority. In response, Haddad requested to conclude the hearing to prepare for the trial's continuation, and the discussion, which was scheduled to last until 3:00 PM, ended early.