Al-ShamsPolitics13:30

Israel's Legal Advisor Refuses Court Summons in Netanyahu Corruption Trial

Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba

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Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara refused to personally attend a court session regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial, stating her prosecution team can represent her. She remains open to settlement discussions, potentially through presidential mediation, but claims Netanyahu has not engaged. The court, seeking to expedite the case, had suggested her presence to explore a plea deal, particularly in Case 4000 involving bribery allegations.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara refused to personally appear in Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial.
Judges suggested Baharav-Miara's presence to discuss a potential settlement, especially in Case 4000.
Baharav-Miara stated her prosecution team is sufficient to represent her legal position.
She expressed willingness for settlement talks, including via mediation by President Yitzhak Herzog.
Netanyahu's lawyer insisted the court can compel the Attorney General's attendance.
The court aims to conclude the trial before March 2028.

Israel's Legal Advisor Refuses Court Summons in Netanyahu Corruption Trial — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Israel's Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara, has refused to appear personally before the court hearing corruption charges against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She stated that the prosecution team has the necessary authority and expertise to represent her position and that her personal attendance is not procedurally required, though she receives regular updates. This stance comes after judges suggested her participation in a closed session to discuss a potential settlement to end the years-long trial.

Baharav-Miara expressed willingness to engage in direct dialogue about a settlement, including through mediation by President Yitzhak Herzog. Her office responded to Herzog's request to open dialogue channels, but she indicated that Netanyahu had not reciprocated the initiative. Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad, insisted on Baharav-Miara's mandatory appearance, arguing the court has the authority to compel her attendance.

During Wednesday's hearing, prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh conveyed Baharav-Miara's position. The judges, including Oded Shaham and presiding judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman, had previously raised the possibility of summoning the Attorney General to discuss a potential plea deal, particularly concerning the bribery charge in Case 4000. This case involves allegations of regulatory favors for the Bezeq telecommunications company in exchange for positive media coverage on the Walla website.

The court is pushing to conclude the trial before the presiding judge's term ends in March 2028. The judicial proceedings have been slow, with hearings and testimonies ongoing years after the trial began. The judges had previously urged the prosecution to consider dropping the bribery charge in Case 4000 and encouraged both sides to explore a settlement.