Legal Expert Alleges Coordinated Effort Behind Netanyahu Corruption Trial
Amid ongoing judicial requests to drop the bribery charge against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which was pivotal to opening his trial, a new interview series seeks to uncover who initiated the legal proceedings that deeply divided Israel. The first interview features legal scholar Rabbi Chaim Shain, who asserts that while he cannot name a specific individual responsible for starting the case, it was clearly orchestrated by a well-coordinated group within Israel's legal system. This group, according to Shain, includes members of the courts, the State Attorney's Office, the prosecution, and the police, who allegedly fabricated the charges against Netanyahu.
Shain criticizes the quality of the case, calling it a poorly executed "tailoring" that embarrasses even Chinese tailors, and expresses astonishment that hundreds of officials involved never spoke out against the alleged illegal actions. He claims that those who eventually testify about these misconducts do so only after retirement, revealing a systemic effort to remove the right-wing government by targeting Netanyahu. Shain describes the right-wing as unfairly demonized by this faction, which he says justified its actions with the slogan "Only not Bibi," allowing them to undermine democracy and fracture Israeli society.
When asked about the origins of this campaign, Shain rejects the notion of a shadowy conspiracy, stating that the effort took place openly within the offices of the legal advisors, prosecution, and police, all driven by the goal to topple Netanyahu and the right-wing government. He warns that this constitutes an attempted coup via the law enforcement system, a fact increasingly recognized by the public and even judges who have twice ruled there was no bribery. Despite this, prosecutors persist in pursuing the case until the last involved official retires.
Shain calls on the public to understand the severity of these events, equating them to an attack on Israel's democratic foundations that would be considered a coup attempt elsewhere, with those involved deserving investigation and prosecution. He hopes the trial will continue to expose all participants and potentially trigger formal inquiries. Furthermore, Shain highlights a deeper constitutional crisis, noting that the legal system's disregard for voter will and democratic norms risks destabilizing the state, especially during wartime when such crises are untenable.
He references former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit's testimony about being blackmailed, suggesting this too requires scrutiny. Shain praises Netanyahu's refusal to accept a plea deal, arguing that his determination to fight the charges has revealed the truth to the public and underscored the dangers of such politically motivated prosecutions. He warns that if a prime minister can be targeted in this way, no citizen is safe from similar legal abuses.
