Netanyahu Requests Attorney General to Decide on Dropping Bribery Charge in Case 4000

Benjamin Netanyahu's defense attorney informed the court on Wednesday that he has requested the Attorney General to make a decision regarding the judges' recommendation to drop the bribery charge in Case 4000. The defense argued that after the court recess, a hearing will be held to determine the continuation of the trial and the defense witnesses. If the Attorney General accepts the judges' recommendation, many defense witnesses could be dismissed.

This request follows a recent reaffirmation by the judicial panel, which reiterated its position from three years ago that the bribery charge should be reconsidered for removal due to difficulties in proving it. Initially, the judges expressed doubts about the bribery evidence and suggested dropping the charge, but Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the prosecution refused, insisting they would prove bribery during Netanyahu's cross-examination.

However, with the judges maintaining their stance, the prosecution's attempt to revive the bribery charge during cross-examination has failed, leaving no further opportunity to prove it. During a hearing about extending trial days to five per week, Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Hadad, stated that if it becomes clear the bribery charge will be dropped, the number of defense witnesses could be reduced. The judges confirmed their three-year-old decision remains unchanged. Should the Attorney General not retract the bribery charge, the prosecution may attempt to persuade the judges during closing arguments, summarizing the evidence presented to support their case.