Former AG Avichai Mandelblit Faces Tense Confrontation at Court

Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit faced a tense scene at the Jerusalem District Court on Sunday as he arrived to testify as a key defense witness in the ongoing corruption trial of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Surrounded by security guards, Mandelblit reportedly urged his security detail to "handle" female journalists who attempted to ask him questions about law enforcement procedures, remarking, "We are not Shira Schinaz."

Courtroom Confrontation and Public Backlash

The remark and the effort to push reporters away immediately sparked angry reactions from bystanders and activists in the corridor. Critics shouted at Mandelblit, demanding accountability from the former official who served the public sector for years.

"Why aren't you answering? What kind of behavior is this? We are in a democratic country... You owe the public an answer, you received a salary from the public!"

Seven years have passed since the dramatic moment when Mandelblit announced his decision to indict Netanyahu in the high-profile corruption cases. This time, however, he stands before the court not as a prosecutor, but as a defense witness answering questions regarding the handling of the police investigations.

Defense Strategy Ahead of Elections

The core of Mandelblit's testimony centers on the defense's main argument that critical investigative actions against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were conducted prior to receiving the required formal approval from the Attorney General, or that police exceeded authorized boundaries.

Defense attorneys Amit Hadad and Noa Milstein are scheduled to cross-examine Mandelblit over seven non-consecutive court sessions, taking place just weeks before the upcoming elections.

• Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit testified at the Jerusalem District Court.

• Defense attorneys plan a seven-day cross-examination.

• The testimony occurs ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections.