Netanyahu’s Defense Demands Attorney General Address Bribery Charge Deletion in Trial

During the ongoing trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Tel Aviv District Court on January 12, 2026, his defense team formally requested that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara respond to the judges’ clarification regarding the bribery charge. Defense attorneys Amit Hadad and Jacques Chen, representing Netanyahu and defendants Shaul and Iris Elovitch, sent a letter emphasizing that their trial strategy depends on the Attorney General’s response.

The request follows a recent court session after Netanyahu’s testimony, where the presiding judge, Rivka Friedman-Feldman, reiterated the judges’ position from three years prior. At that time, the judges privately suggested to the parties to drop the bribery charge, the most serious allegation against Netanyahu, citing difficulties in proving it. Judge Friedman-Feldman, known for minimizing potentially divisive statements during the trial, confirmed that their stance had not changed since June 2023.

This move by the defense aims to pressure the Attorney General, who has so far refrained from commenting on the judges’ significant remark. The bribery charge is part of Case 4000, a central component of the so-called "thousands case" against Netanyahu. The defense’s demand highlights the ongoing legal and procedural complexities surrounding the trial and the prosecution’s case.

The trial continues amid intense public and political scrutiny, with the defense awaiting the Attorney General’s official position on the bribery charge to determine their next steps.