Former AG testifies police had standing authority to continue probe

Avichai Mandelblit told the Jerusalem District Court on Monday that police investigators retained standing authority to proceed with their work without seeking his approval for every single action. The former attorney general testified that the scope of his original authorization defined the boundaries of the investigation. He stated that only major new developments required him to be consulted again.

Mandelblit appeared in court to answer questions from Amit Hadad, the defense lawyer for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hadad focused on whether investigators exceeded their mandate by questioning specific individuals about alleged gifts. The hearing centered on the preliminary examination that developed into Case 1000. This case involves claims that Netanyahu received expensive presents from businessmen Arnon Milchan and James Packer and took actions to help Milchan.

Hadad asked if police needed separate permission to question Hadas Klein, Milchan's assistant, and Yonatan Hasson, Packer's driver. Mandelblit replied that these interviews fit within the general permission he granted to examine suspicions of substantial benefits from business figures. He argued that the approval remained valid throughout the process. He did not require investigators to return to him for sign-off on each interview or document review.

Judge Moshe Bar-Am asked how police could distinguish between routine steps and those needing new consent. Mandelblit explained that the subject matter he approved set the limit. He said that if the investigation shifted to a new topic or faced a significant change, the police would have needed to ask him again. He maintained that questioning the two assistants fell within the original scope of looking into business dealings.

On Sunday, Mandelblit discussed a different part of the case involving wiretaps. He said he ordered police to stop listening in on Natan Eshel, a close confidant of Netanyahu, as soon as he learned of the operation. Investigators had a court warrant, but Mandelblit felt the sensitivity of Eshel's role required prior approval. He noted that Eshel was deeply involved in the prime minister's personal and political life.

The trial began in May 2020 and covers three cases. Netanyahu faces charges of fraud and breach of trust in all three. Case 4000 includes a bribery charge related to regulatory benefits for Bezeq and media coverage from Walla. Netanyahu denies all wrongdoing in the proceedings.