Verbal fireworks as PM Netanyahu faces cross examination in continuation of his corruption trial

Admin I Tuesday, December 18, 2024

 

JERUSALEM – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was again in court today in continuation of his corruption trial. In November, 21,  2019, Netanyahu was officially indicted for breach of trust, accepting bribes, and fraud, leading him to legally relinquish his ministry portfolios other than prime minister.

Netanyahu is also alleged to have gone into a deal with Walla, who then-owned  Shaul Elovitch for favorable media coverage  in return for advanced regulatory decisions that would pay Bezeq telecommunications company, where Elovitch holds controlling shares.

Walla news website had frequently published articles deemed to be hostile to Netanyahu, and was not especially attentive to requests for improved coverage.

There was however a mild confrontation during the trial today, with the defense counsel of  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Amit Hadad  telling the chief prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh that he will not be able to secure conviction against the Prime Minister.

“You have no chance of a conviction”.

This heated altercation became riff after Judge Oded Shaham asked Hadad if he needed to repeat the same questions while interrogating  Netanyahu regarding every example of alleged interference in Walla’s coverage in the indictment.

Hadad  had consistently asked Netanyahu  if  he was involved in the request, his opinion on the slant of the article, and how well he felt Walla had adjusted after the alleged  request was made.