Netanyahu Trial: Former AG Defines Scope of Police Authority

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 for the defense, which is focused on whether investigators operated within the specific limits he set for their work.

Mandelblit authorized the initial investigations and later signed the indictment. The defense argues that police may have exceeded those boundaries when they questioned specific individuals. On Monday, the hearing addressed the preliminary examination that evolved into Case 1000. This case involves alleged gifts from businessmen Arnon Milchan and James Packer, as well as actions taken to benefit Milchan.

Netanyahu’s lawyer, Amit Hadad, asked Mandelblit to clarify the boundaries of police authority. Hadad questioned whether investigators went too far when they interviewed Hadas Klein, Milchan’s assistant, and Yonatan Hasson, Packer’s driver. The defense suggested these interviews required separate consent beyond the original authorization.

Mandelblit responded that the questioning of Klein and Hasson fell within his broader permission to examine suspicions regarding substantial benefits from businessmen. He stated that this permission remained in force. According to Mandelblit, investigators did not need to return to him for approval of each individual action taken during the probe.

Judge Moshe Bar-Am asked how investigators could distinguish between steps covered by the initial authorization and those requiring further consent. Mandelblit explained that the subject matter he approved set the boundaries. He added that only significant developments would call for further consultation with him.

This testimony follows Mandelblit’s statements on Sunday regarding wiretaps. He said he ordered police to stop wiretapping Natan Eshel, a confidant of Netanyahu, after learning of the operation. Although investigators had a court warrant, Mandelblit argued that listening in on someone so closely involved in the prime minister’s affairs was sensitive enough to warrant prior approval.

The trial began in May 2020 and covers three cases involving alleged gifts and dealings with media owners. Netanyahu faces charges of fraud and breach of trust in all three cases. In Case 4000, he also faces a bribery charge related to alleged regulatory benefits for Bezeq in exchange for intervention in the news coverage of Walla. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing.