Jerusalem Court Judges Signal Prosecutors to Drop Bribery Charge Against Netanyahu

Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's extended testimony in the Jerusalem District Court, the panel of judges sent a clear and dramatic message to the prosecution. They stated that their position remains unchanged since June 2023, when they recommended that the prosecution drop the bribery charge in Case 4000, related to the Bezeq-Walla affair. This reaffirmation came immediately after Netanyahu's testimony, emphasizing that new evidence and investigations have not altered their view that the bribery charge lacks sufficient evidentiary support.

The judges' statement recalls a closed-door meeting held in June 2023 with representatives from both the prosecution and defense, where the judges expressed serious doubts about the prosecution's ability to prove the bribery allegation. Despite this recommendation, the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the prosecution rejected the suggestion to drop the charge at that time.

The judges' renewed position is considered a significant professional blow to the prosecution's longstanding approach in the trial. The prosecution had hoped Netanyahu's testimony would strengthen their case or reveal weaknesses in his defense, but the judges' official statement indicates the opposite. For Netanyahu's defense team, this development is a major victory and a strong boost, casting substantial doubt on the continuation of the trial in its current form.