Israel's Legal Advisor Refuses Court Summons in Netanyahu Trial

The Legal Advisor to the Israeli Government, Gali Baharav-Miara, on Wednesday rejected a request from judges to attend a closed session in the corruption trial of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Baharav-Miara stated that the prosecution team is authorized to represent her and manage the case. This decision came in response to an unusual proposal by the judges last week, who have repeatedly urged the prosecution to consider dropping the bribery charge in Case 4000 and are seeking to expedite the trial proceedings.

State Prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh conveyed Baharav-Miara's position, who argued that her personal attendance, with senior prosecution officials present, was "not the correct procedure for the functioning of the prosecution." She emphasized that her experienced legal team, including the Deputy State Prosecutor, is capable of conveying any necessary message and is regularly updated on the trial's progress.

Despite her refusal to attend, Baharav-Miara affirmed her readiness for direct dialogue regarding a potential plea deal with Netanyahu, even through mediation by President Isaac Herzog. Her office, she stated, responded to the President's request to open dialogue channels, but Netanyahu did not reciprocate. The prosecution team echoed this, stating their door remains open for discussions on a settlement, and that such dialogue does not necessitate her court appearance.

However, Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad, insisted that the court has the authority to summon the Legal Advisor, even against her wishes. Judge Oded Shaham had previously indicated the court was considering summoning Baharav-Miara, stating, "If we want to conduct a dialogue, it must be with her." Presiding Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman questioned why she could not be summoned, noting the many unusual aspects of the case.

A senior judicial official described the judges' consideration of summoning the Legal Advisor as a "strong hint to the prosecution" and an exceptional, unprecedented move. This dispute arises after the judges twice proposed dropping the bribery charge in Case 4000, to which the Legal Advisor has not yet responded. The court has also repeatedly called on both sides to explore mediation for a plea deal. The judicial panel aims to conclude the trial before Friedman-Feldman's term ends in March 2028, given the slow pace of proceedings over the years. In a related development, former Legal Advisor Avichai Mandelblit, testifying before the elections, expressed uncertainty about approving the investigation into bribery in Case 4000, stating, "Perhaps I agreed to use the word bribery, but I don't remember."