Police Recordings Reveal Repeated Attempts to Schedule Netanyahu's Testimony in Leak Cases

Recordings released by Channel 12 on Wednesday reveal the Israeli police's repeated efforts to coordinate a date for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's testimony in two cases involving leaks to the German newspaper Bild and a late-night meeting. Despite numerous attempts over two months, the police were unable to secure Netanyahu's appearance, leading the prosecution to forgo his testimony and proceed with indictments without it.

The recordings capture conversations between a police investigator and Netanyahu's office, including his adviser Nevo Katz and chief of staff Ido Nordan. Katz confirmed informing Netanyahu about the request and inquired about the expected length of the testimony, agreeing to continue scheduling efforts. Conversely, Nordan stated there was no possibility to fit the testimony into Netanyahu's schedule, citing his busy agenda with court hearings, security and diplomatic events, and key appointments.

Nordan also indicated that Netanyahu was not necessarily aware of the attempts to schedule the testimony, asserting that managing the prime minister's calendar was his responsibility. The police investigator insisted Netanyahu should be informed, but Nordan said he had only been in the role for two weeks and was unsure if Netanyahu had been briefed earlier. The investigator requested a clear answer on Netanyahu's awareness or a definitive statement that testimony could not be scheduled in the near future. Nordan responded that he was overwhelmed and asked to be contacted later, promising to look into the matter.

Last month, during court discussions about removing Netanyahu's confidant Nir Hefetz from the case, a prosecution representative described Netanyahu's reluctance to testify as potentially aiding Hefetz. Ultimately, the prosecution decided to proceed without Netanyahu's testimony. Earlier reports indicated at least ten attempts were made to summon Netanyahu for questioning in these cases, all unsuccessful.

This development highlights the challenges faced by Israeli law enforcement in securing testimony from high-profile political figures amid ongoing legal proceedings.