Judges Reaffirm Recommendation to Drop Bribery Charge Against Netanyahu in Case 4000

The judicial panel overseeing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trial has reiterated its June 2023 position recommending the prosecution drop the bribery charge in Case 4000, also known as the Bezeq-Walla affair. This reaffirmation came after Netanyahu's testimony, with judges stating explicitly that their stance has not changed despite the evidence and his defense presented in court.

In June 2023, the Jerusalem District Court judges Rebecca Friedman-Feldman, Moshe Bar-Am, and Oded Shaham privately advised the prosecution and defense that proving the bribery charge would be difficult and suggested withdrawing it to streamline the trial. However, this recommendation was rejected by the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the State Prosecution, who chose to continue the trial, including hearing defense witnesses and Netanyahu himself.

Following the completion of Netanyahu's testimony, the judges formally recorded that their original concerns about the evidentiary weaknesses of the bribery charge remain unchanged. This legal position underscores ongoing judicial skepticism about the prosecution's ability to substantiate the bribery allegation despite the trial's progression.

The case remains a focal point in Israeli politics and law, with the bribery charge being a central and contentious element of Netanyahu's ongoing legal battles. The prosecution's next steps regarding this charge are awaited, as the trial continues to unfold.