Defense pins liability on former AG's authorization scope in Netanyahu trial
Avichai Mandelblit told the court that investigators did not need his sign-off for every step in Case 1000, countering the legal team's argument that they overreached.
By Enzo Conti ·
Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit told the Jerusalem District Court on Monday that investigators in the Netanyahu case operated within the broad permissions he originally granted them.
The defense is using Mandelblit's testimony to challenge the scope of the police investigation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's lawyer, Amit Hadad, asked Mandelblit to specify which investigative steps required explicit consent and which fell under his initial authorization.
On Sunday, Mandelblit testified that he ordered police to stop wiretapping Natan Eshel, a close associate of the Prime Minister, after learning of the operation. Although investigators held a court warrant, Mandelblit stated that the sensitivity of monitoring someone so involved in the Prime Minister's personal and political affairs warranted prior approval from his office.
On Monday, the hearing shifted to the preliminary examination that evolved into Case 1000. This case involves alleged valuable gifts from businessmen Arnon Milchan and James Packer, as well as actions Netanyahu allegedly took to benefit Milchan. Hadad questioned whether investigators exceeded their mandate when they interrogated Hadas Klein, Milchan's assistant, and Yonatan Hasson, Packer's driver, regarding those gifts.
Mandelblit maintained that questioning those individuals fell within his general permission to examine suspicions that Netanyahu received substantial benefits from businessmen. He explained that this authorization remained in force, meaning investigators did not need to return to him for approval of each individual action.
Judge Moshe Bar-Am asked how investigators could distinguish between steps covered by that authorization and those requiring additional consent. Mandelblit answered that the subject matter he approved set the boundaries, while significant developments called for further consultation.
Netanyahu's trial began in May 2020 and covers three cases involving alleged gifts and dealings with media owners. He faces charges of fraud and breach of trust in all three. In Case 4000, he also faces a bribery charge concerning alleged regulatory benefits for Bezeq in exchange for intervention in the news coverage of Walla. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
