Former AG Mandelblit to Testify in Netanyahu Trial Amid Intense Scrutiny

Former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit is scheduled to take the witness stand on Sunday at the Jerusalem District Court to face cross-examination by the defense in the ongoing corruption trials of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This highly anticipated testimony follows the court's rejection of all his requests for postponement.

Over the course of seven scheduled hearing days, the defense is expected to confront Mandelblit regarding severe allegations concerning the handling of the investigations. Key topics will include discrepancies in cell phone location tracking data for state witness Shlomo Filber, the unauthorized use of spyware against Filber and associates of Netanyahu, and alleged procedural flaws in authorizing the investigations.

Unlike senior police officers who recently testified and claimed memory lapses or shifted responsibility, Mandelblit bears ultimate accountability as the former head of the judicial system. In 2021, Mandelblit submitted a memo to the court asserting that all investigation approvals were lawfully granted, a claim that will now face intense scrutiny during these evidentiary proceedings.