Jerusalem Court Orders Attorney General to Appear in Netanyahu Trial

By נטעאל בנדל

Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba

CenterNeutral tone

Hebrew · 20 newsrooms covering

The Jerusalem District Court has ordered Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to attend a hearing in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial on Wednesday, overriding her objections. The judges believe her direct participation is crucial for dialogue and to address key issues in the case, possibly related to the bribery charge in Case 4000 or alleged investigative failures. The Attorney General's office had opposed the summons, citing procedural reasons, but Netanyahu's defense argued for her mandatory appearance.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Jerusalem court orders Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to attend Netanyahu trial hearing.
Judges cite need for direct dialogue and response from the decision-maker.
Summons may aim to pressure dropping bribery charge in Case 4000.
Court also considering defense claims of investigative failures and "justice from above."
Attorney General's office opposed the appearance, citing procedural concerns.
Netanyahu's lawyer argued the court has authority to summon the AG.

Jerusalem Court Orders Attorney General to Appear in Netanyahu Trial — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

The Jerusalem District Court has ordered Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to appear for a hearing in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial on Wednesday, despite her opposition. The judges, Rivka Friedman-Feldman, Moshe Bar-Am, and Oded Shaham, stated that her personal appearance is necessary for a "productive bilateral dialogue" and to allow the decision-maker to "hear the matters directly and respond to them as needed." This summons comes amid speculation about the judges' intentions, particularly concerning the bribery charge in Case 4000. One judge, Friedman-Feldman, is set to retire in 2028 and may not be present for a verdict, prompting the court to accelerate proceedings. The judges have previously suggested dropping the bribery charge, but the Attorney General and prosecution believe it can be proven and appealed to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Another possibility is that the judges will consider the defense's request for "justice from above," which could lead to the dismissal of additional charges due to alleged "failures" in the investigation, potentially related to former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit's approval of investigations into Netanyahu. Judge Bar-Am has indicated that illegal actions may have occurred, but the majority of the panel disagreed on allowing defense lawyers to expand questioning of Mandelblit. The court's decision noted that the discussion regarding the trial's management is "concerning Mr. Netanyahu," suggesting a focus on his specific involvement or potential issues with approvals that could impact other charges and cases.

The hearing is scheduled for November 18th at 9:30 AM, with the possibility of closed sessions. The Attorney General's office had previously stated she would not attend, arguing that her representatives are authorized to handle the proceedings and that her personal appearance would disrupt established work procedures. Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Haddad, countered that the court has the authority to summon her, citing a similar instance where the Supreme Court summoned the State Attorney. He believes her presence is warranted given the significant issues raised in the trial.