MK Tali Gottlieb Clashes with Netanyahu Lawyer Over Court Photo Incident in Jerusalem

A heated confrontation erupted in the Jerusalem District Court during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial when MK Tali Gottlieb, attending as a guest, took a photo of an official document inside the courtroom, violating court rules. The presiding judge, Rivka Friedman-Feldman, immediately reprimanded Gottlieb, instructing her to stop. Gottlieb responded angrily, rejecting the judge's form of address and insisting she was entitled to take the photo, emphasizing she did not photograph the judges personally or act covertly.

The disruption escalated as Netanyahu's defense attorney, Amit Hadad, attempted to calm the situation by offering to provide Gottlieb with the document herself. Gottlieb brusquely declined his intervention, asserting she could represent herself without his help. Meanwhile, the trial proceeded with testimony from attorney Shaham Shavit, a former legal advisor to the Securities Authority's investigative unit.

Shavit faced tough questioning from Shaul Elovitch's lawyer, Jacques Chen, who challenged his credibility and memory regarding operational and legal decisions during investigations involving the Netanyahu family and Elovitch. Shavit maintained that field investigation managers, including Eli Levi, made the operational decisions. The defense also presented a May 3, 2011 memorandum highlighting alleged flaws and contradictions in the investigation, including delayed email markings by Securities Authority investigator Polina, aimed at undermining the prosecution's evidence.

The courtroom incident and ongoing intense cross-examination underscore the trial's contentious atmosphere as it continues to unfold in Jerusalem.