Heated Clash in Netanyahu Trial as Defense Claims Evidence Was Withheld
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
A heated exchange occurred in the Jerusalem District Court during the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, involving former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and defense attorney Amit Haddad. Haddad accused prosecutors of withholding evidence from Mandelblit regarding Case 4000, claiming Walla news site rejected many coverage requests. The judge intervened to calm the proceedings after Haddad's outburst.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Defense attorney Amit Haddad accused prosecutors of hiding evidence from former AG Avichai Mandelblit in Netanyahu's trial.
- Haddad claimed Walla news site rejected dozens of coverage requests from the Prime Minister's Office.
- The dramatic confrontation led to a shouting match between Haddad and prosecutor Judith Tirosh.
- Presiding Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman intervened to stop the heated exchange.
- The defense continued questioning police investigation irregularities concerning "Israel Hayom" newspaper.
A dramatic confrontation unfolded in the Jerusalem District Court on Monday during the cross-examination of former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Attorney Amit Haddad questioned the basis of the original criminal suspicion in Case 4000, focusing on the connection between requests for coverage on the Walla news site and alleged bribery. Mandelblit maintained that the suspicion centered on the practical ability to influence journalistic content for significant benefit.
Haddad accused Mandelblit of being presented with an incomplete factual picture at the time, citing dozens of instances where Walla rejected coverage requests from the Prime Minister's Office or published contrary content. "If the court allows me to show you what they hid from you about the quid pro quo, you will explode," Haddad declared from the stand.
This statement triggered a heated exchange between Haddad and Judith Tirosh, Director of the Securities Department at the Tax and Economic Crimes Prosecution, who objected to the presentation of evidence. Haddad shouted back at Tirosh, "You don't scare me at all, not at all!" He also referenced the judges' earlier request for the prosecution to examine the existence of the bribery clause.
The presiding judge, Rivka Friedman-Feldman, intervened to halt the confrontation, instructing Mandelblit not to respond to certain statements. The defense then resumed its examination of alleged irregularities in police investigations from 2017 concerning the "Israel Hayom" newspaper and their compliance with legal authorizations.
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