Ex-AG Mandelblit Denies Yielding to Pressure in Netanyahu Trial
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial, confirming suspicions of leaks from the prosecution and police aimed at pressuring him. Responding to Judge Moshe Bar-Am, Mandelblit vehemently denied yielding to this pressure, stating his decisions were based solely on evidence and law. The defense attorney presented media reports alleging delays in Netanyahu's interrogation, which Mandelblit addressed by emphasizing his role in professional oversight.
הידיעה ב-5 שורות · תקציר של baba
- Former AG Mandelblit confirmed suspicions of leaks to pressure him in Netanyahu investigations.
- Mandelblit denied yielding to pressure, stating his actions were based on evidence and law.
- Judge Moshe Bar-Am questioned Mandelblit about succumbing to alleged leaks and pressure.
- Netanyahu's defense attorney presented media reports as evidence of pressure.
- Mandelblit stated his role was professional oversight, not thwarting investigations.
During his fourth day of testimony in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit confirmed he suspected that individuals within the State Prosecutor's Office and the police had leaked confidential information to the media. He believed these leaks were intended to pressure him into advancing the investigations against Netanyahu.
When questioned by Judge Moshe Bar-Am about whether he succumbed to such pressures and stalled the investigations, Mandelblit forcefully responded, "The opposite." He asserted that his actions were solely based on evidence and the law, and that he pushed for increased oversight of the investigators.
The issue arose when Netanyahu's defense attorney, Amit Haddad, presented a September 2016 Maariv newspaper article. The article detailed closed-door discussions and alleged pressure regarding a supposed delay in summoning Netanyahu for a warning interrogation, and included detailed descriptions of internal discussions. Mandelblit acknowledged suspecting planned leaks from police and prosecution elements aimed at pressuring him to act, though he stated he lacked definitive proof of the leakers' identities.
Responding to Judge Bar-Am's direct question, "Did you yield to the pressure?" Mandelblit immediately rejected the premise. "The opposite... I said I wanted to oversee matters, especially in this case, and that is what I did," he stated. Haddad attempted to frame the publications as part of a campaign to accelerate the Netanyahu investigations. However, Mandelblit maintained that his decisions were not influenced by media campaigns or investigator pressure, but were based exclusively on the evidentiary foundation and legal requirements.
While the defense attorney suggested that certain actions within the law enforcement system were improperly expedited and that Mandelblit needed to "block" them, the former attorney general distanced himself from the term "block." He clarified that his role focused on rigorous professional oversight and in-depth examination of materials, without intentionally thwarting any legitimate investigation.
לא אותו אירוע: ידיעות אחרות שחולקות עם הידיעה הזו אנשים, מקומות או נושא. רקע, תגובות והמשכים.
