Netanyahu Trial: Judges Consider Summoning Attorney General in Case 4000
Attorneys in the Netanyahu trial have urged judges to summon Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to discuss Case 4000. The judicial panel revealed they previously considered the step, while prosecutors voiced sharp opposition.
Defense attorneys in the trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have asked the judges to summon Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to court for a comprehensive discussion on the future of Case 4000.
During Thursday's hearing, lawyers Amit Hadad, representing Netanyahu, and Boaz Ben Zur, representing Shaul Elovitch, petitioned the panel to engage directly with the attorney general. To the surprise of the courtroom, presiding Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman and Judge Oded Shaham revealed that the bench had previously considered taking this exact step, noting that the defense was pushing on an open door.
Prosecutor Nitzan Vulkan expressed astonishment at the proposal, questioning the legal basis for summoning the attorney general and maintaining that state prosecutors act as her representatives in court. However, Judge Shaham emphasized that overseeing the proceedings from the top falls under the attorney general's responsibility, suggesting that a more direct dialogue could help untangle the ongoing judicial stalemate.
Legal analysts note that the Tel Aviv District Court judges have previously signaled doubts regarding the bribery charges in Case 4000, twice suggesting that the prosecution reconsider that specific count. While the prosecution has maintained its position, the attorney general previously rejected a judicial proposal for third-party mediation, pointing instead to standard plea bargain procedures.
