Professor Yuval Elbashan Explains Why Bribery Charge Was Added Against Netanyahu
Professor Yuval Elbashan, former dean of the Ono Academic Campus Faculty of Law, discusses the controversial bribery charge in the criminal case against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In the sixth interview of a series examining the origins of the investigation, Elbashan explains that the bribery charge was added because prosecutors believed it was necessary to bring a strong enough accusation to justify a trial. He notes that the bribery allegation was unprecedented and problematic from the start, with internal prosecutors aware of its weaknesses but pressured to maintain it.
Elbashan describes the prosecutorial approach as a "mafia-like" tactic of pushing charges regardless of their strength, aiming to overwhelm defendants with legal battles. He highlights that judges recently urged the prosecution to drop the bribery charge, an unusual move indicating serious doubts about its validity. However, Elbashan says it is now difficult to remove the charge because those who filed it have left office, and the current Attorney General lacks criminal law expertise.
He also touches on the political and psychological pressures influencing the case, including public protests against former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who was involved in the decision-making. Elbashan suggests that the decision to include the bribery charge was made collectively by a group of senior prosecutors, including Mandelblit and former State Attorney Shai Nitzan, though he was not present at the meeting.
Despite the challenges, Elbashan believes the bribery charge will ultimately be dismissed and Netanyahu acquitted, attributing the continuation of the charge to fear of public backlash. He warns that if such prosecutorial tactics are used against a high-profile figure like Netanyahu, ordinary citizens face even greater risks of unjust legal persecution. Elbashan criticizes the frequent turnover of key legal officials during the trial as a scandal that undermines accountability and decision-making.
The interview is part of a series exploring the political and legal dynamics behind Netanyahu's trial, featuring various legal experts and commentators.
