Mandelblit testifies on police limits in Netanyahu trial

Former attorney-general Avichai Mandelblit returned to the Jerusalem District Court on Monday to continue his testimony in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He is testifying on behalf of the defense. The central issue before the court is whether police investigators stayed within the specific approvals Mandelblit granted them.

Mandelblit authorized the initial investigations and later approved the indictment. Defense lawyer Amit Hadad questioned him regarding the exact boundaries of police authority. Hadad asked which investigative steps required further consent from Mandelblit and which fell within existing permissions.

During Sunday's session, Mandelblit stated that he ordered police to stop wiretapping Natan Eshel, a close confidant of Netanyahu, after learning of the operation. Although investigators held a court warrant, Mandelblit argued that the sensitivity of Eshel's role warranted prior approval. He maintained that listening to someone so involved in the prime minister's personal and political affairs was a major step.

On Monday, the hearing focused on the preliminary examination that became Case 1000. This case involves alleged gifts from businessmen Arnon Milchan and James Packer, as well as actions taken to benefit Milchan. Hadad suggested investigators exceeded their authorization when they questioned Hadas Klein, Milchan's assistant, and Yonatan Hasson, Packer's driver, about the gifts.

Mandelblit responded that the questioning fell within his broader permission to examine suspicions of substantial benefits. He stated that this permission remained in effect and that investigators did not need to return for approval on every individual action. Judge Moshe Bar-Am asked how police could distinguish between steps covered by the authorization and those requiring new consent.

Mandelblit answered that the subject matter he approved set the boundaries, while major 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 cases. In Case 4000, he also faces a bribery charge related to alleged benefits for Bezeq in exchange for intervention in Walla's news coverage. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing.