Full Breakdown
Attorney-General Testifies Amid Accusations of Concealed Evidence in Netanyahu Corruption Trial
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Trial Overview and Core Testimony
During a hearing on October 11, 2026, former attorney-general Avichai Mandelblit testified before the Jerusalem District Court in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial. Mandelblit said he would be “very surprised” if prosecutors had deliberately hidden information from him, while defense lawyer Amit Hadad pressed the court on whether investigators had acted without the attorney-general’s explicit approval. The exchange centered on the scope of authorizations for the investigations that led to the three combined cases—gift allegations (Case 1000), media-coverage negotiations (Case 2000), and regulatory benefits for Bezeq (Case 4000).
Background & Context
The trial, which began in 2020, merges three separate indictments. Prosecutors allege that Netanyahu received gifts from wealthy businessmen (Case 1000), discussed favorable media coverage with publisher Arnon Mozes in exchange for actions against rival newspaper Israel Hayom (Case 2000), and advanced regulatory measures benefiting telecom firm Bezeq in return for favorable coverage on the Walla news site (Case 4000). Netanyahu denies all wrongdoing. The attorney-general’s consent is required under Israeli law to open an investigation against a sitting prime minister.
Defense Allegations of Concealed Information
Hadad argued that investigators pursued new lines of inquiry—such as collecting emails from former Bezeq shareholder Shaul Elovitch’s account and material concerning photographs of Sara Netanyahu—without Mandelblit’s approval. He cited a 2015 Haaretz article reporting alleged Walla coverage in exchange for regulatory benefits, calling it a “catalyst” for the probe. Hadad also claimed prosecutors misled Mandelblit and withheld information, prompting a heated exchange in which prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh objected to the personal nature of the accusation.
Official Statements & Responses
Mandelblit emphasized his confidence in the prosecution, stating:
“I have full trust in the prosecution, including the people sitting here,” — Avichai Mandelblit
He clarified that while he authorized the opening of the inquiry, he did not approve every individual investigative step, distinguishing overall authorization from specific actions taken by investigators.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I have full trust in the prosecution, including the people sitting here,” — Avichai Mandelblit, former attorney-general.