What It’s About
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s legal defense is actively challenging the allegations against him in his corruption trial. Defense lawyer Amit Hadad has criticized the investigative methods of the Israeli police and prosecution, likening them to the infamous tactics of Stalin and asserting the absence of legitimate evidence against Netanyahu in the multiple cases he faces.
Why It Matters
This trial represents a pivotal moment in Israeli politics, as Netanyahu becomes the first sitting prime minister to testify in a public corruption trial. Its outcomes have significant implications not just for Netanyahu but for the standard of official conduct and the political climate in Israel. The defense team argues the charges are not not only legally flimsy but politically motivated.
Details
In his remarks, Amit Hadad emphasized that the linkage the prosecution tried to establish between different corruption cases against Netanyahu started crumbling five years after the allegations first surfaced. The defense team insists that there has been a complete collapse in parts of the indictment, notably in the high-profile Case 4000, involving alleged media bribery. According to Hadad, the lack of concrete evidence should drive the court to dismiss the bribery charge, among others.
Key Developments
Hadad underscored political implications by noting that former attorney-general Avichai Mandelblit filed the indictment coincidentally as Netanyahu was meeting former U.S. President Donald Trump, signaling potential ulterior motives in the prosecution. The defenses claim that how the prosecution delayed the case due to Netanyahu’s procedural motions suggests political timeliness rather than urgency driven by genuine criminal matters.
What’s Next?
Netanyahu’s defense is expected to continue challenging testimonies that became crucial to the prosecution’s narrative, especially from former aides who proved problematic witnesses under cross-examination. The timeline for concluding this trial remains extended with projections into 2026, signifying prolonged national focus and extensive deliberations over the substance of the charges versus their perceived political motivations. The proceedings are set to continue in early December after being initially delayed due to national akd security concerns.
This story was first published on jpost.com.