Story perspectives

Mandelblit Testifies He Ordered Police Stop Eshel Wiretap

By Drooid · Oct 26, 2026, 3:36 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Mandelblit Stops Wiretap

Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit testified he ordered police to stop the wiretap of Natan Eshel.
Mandelblit said he authorized the corruption probes and later approved the indictment.
Judge Moshe Bar-Am asked how investigators know which actions need further approval.
Mandelblit said his permission to examine suspected benefits to Netanyahu covered gift-related questioning without separate approvals.
Defense noted investigators questioned Milchan’s assistant Hadas Klein and Packer’s driver Yonatan Hasson about gifts.

Summary

James Packer Pays

James Packer paid US$1.25 million to Netanyahu’s defence firm through monthly US$50,000 transfers starting 23 Sept 2024.
Payments moved from Consolidated Press International’s Citibank account to Hadad Roth Shenhar’s Mizrahi Tefahot account.
Transparency International Australia demanded an independent inquiry, citing conflict-of-interest risks.
Netanyahu sought a presidential pardon in November 2025 despite Israeli rulings barring foreign defence funds.

History

Historical Context

The 1972 Watergate burglary—operatives from President Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign were arrested on June 17—triggered a Senate investigation, the release of Oval Office tapes, and Nixon’s resignation on August 9 1974 after 69 people were charged. That precedent of congressional and judicial scrutiny informs today’s Israeli probe of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s alleged foreign-funded gifts.

1 of 3

Mandelblit Stops Wiretap

Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit testified he ordered police to stop the wiretap of Natan Eshel.
Mandelblit said he authorized the corruption probes and later approved the indictment.
Judge Moshe Bar-Am asked how investigators know which actions need further approval.
Mandelblit said his permission to examine suspected benefits to Netanyahu covered gift-related questioning without separate approvals.
Defense noted investigators questioned Milchan’s assistant Hadas Klein and Packer’s driver Yonatan Hasson about gifts.

1 / 3