Attorney General to Appear in Netanyahu Trial Amid Allegations of Flaws

Senior criminal attorney Zion Amir stated that the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has deeply divided Israeli society. Speaking on a podcast, Amir detailed numerous alleged flaws in the legal proceedings, questioning the conduct of the police and prosecution. His remarks precede a significant court session on Wednesday, November 18th, where Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara is expected to appear before the Jerusalem District Court. The judges had ordered her personal appearance to discuss the continuation of Netanyahu's trial, overriding her initial stance that prosecution representatives were sufficient.

This directive comes in light of the judges' expressed difficulties in proving the bribery charge in Case 4000 and their suggestion that the prosecution consider dropping it. Amir believes this upcoming meeting could be a pivotal moment, anticipating that the judges will demand explanations from Baharav-Miara regarding the trial's continuation. He emphasized that the Attorney General must respect the court's summons, calling her attendance "one of the defining moments" in the justice system. However, the court's order is officially to explore options for managing the trial, not to compel testimony on investigation failures.

Amir also criticized the immense public cost of the affair, estimating the total economic damage at hundreds of billions of shekels, which he argued could have been used to solve poverty and bolster social services. He further detailed alleged investigative failures, including the opening of investigations against Netanyahu without proper authorization, which he deemed a "clear criminal act." He also raised concerns about alleged pressure tactics on witnesses, threats to their families, and the use of spyware without necessary permits, citing an instance where a witness's elderly mother's potential arrest was allegedly used to elicit a confession.

Amir expressed opposition to any plea deal for Netanyahu, asserting that the prime minister has a right to a full trial to expose the practices of law enforcement agencies. He described the trial as a "tremendous opportunity to shine a light into the back room of this sausage factory." Criticizing the public discourse, Amir lamented that political factions have turned the trial into a battle of "children of light versus children of darkness," calling it "anarchy, not democracy." The situation remains unresolved, with possibilities including the removal of the bribery charge, a plea deal, or the trial's continuation, while Netanyahu maintains his innocence.