Mandelblit defines police limits in Netanyahu trial

Former attorney-general Avichai Mandelblit stood in the Jerusalem District Court on Monday to clarify the scope of police authority during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trial. The defense is using this testimony to challenge whether investigators operated within the boundaries he set when he authorized the initial probes.

Netanyahu’s lawyer, Amit Hadad, asked Mandelblit to detail exactly which investigative steps required his specific consent. Mandelblit had signed off on the original investigations and later on the indictment. He is now testifying for the defense to establish where those permissions ended and where new approvals were needed.

The discussion 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 questioned whether investigators overreached when they interviewed Hadas Klein, Milchan’s assistant, and Yonatan Hasson, Packer’s driver, about these gifts.

Mandelblit maintained that these interviews fell under his general permission to examine suspicions that Netanyahu received substantial benefits from businessmen. He stated that this permission remained in effect, meaning investigators did not need to return to him for approval on every individual action they took.

Judge Moshe Bar-Am asked how investigators could distinguish between steps covered by that authorization and those requiring additional consent. Mandelblit explained that the subject matter he approved set the boundaries. He noted that while routine steps were covered, significant developments would have called for further consultation with him.

In testimony given Sunday, Mandelblit addressed the wiretapping of Natan Eshel, a close confidant of Netanyahu. He said he ordered police to stop the operation once he learned of it. Although investigators had a court warrant, Mandelblit argued that listening in on someone so involved in the prime minister’s personal and political affairs was sensitive enough to require his prior approval.

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 related to alleged regulatory benefits for Bezeq in exchange for intervention in the news coverage of Walla. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing.