The prime minister’s defense adviser argued that Netanyahu needed a 30-day extension to prepare a response to the amended conviction filed against him Sunday in Case 4000.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem District Court in May 2020
(Photo: AFP)
The amended trial was filed Sunday by court order to remove all references to “the prime minister and his family” and to refer only to the prime minister.
The request for extension came along with the other defendants in the case, Elovitch and his wife Iris, as well as Arnon Mozes, the publisher of Ynet accused in the 2000 Case separately.
Arnon Mozes, center, in Jerusalem court in May 2020
Based on the costs associated with Case 2000, Netanyahu and Mozes appear to have considered mutual support to promote each other’s interests at private meetings that began in 2009 and lasted several years, Netanyahu is accused of fraud and bankruptcy. trust and Mozes with bribery.
Netanyahu denies all charges against him, saying he has been the victim of a witch hunt orchestrated by hostile media, police and prosecutors.
In the request filed Wednesday, Netanyahu defense lawyers Boaz Ben Tzur and Amit Hadad said they are investigating the possibility that the change in the lawsuit is now allowing the Prime Minister to provide parliamentary protection.
“It should be noted that we are looking into the recognized legal meaning in changing the lawsuit as it relates to protection law. The plaintiff retains the right of every claim on this matter, “he wrote.
Benjamin Netanyahu, right, in court with his legal team in May 2020
(Photo: Amit Shabi)
A year ago, Netanyahu asked the Knesset to consider gaining parliamentary protection, and the Knesset Preparations Committee, which governs parliamentary activity in times of transition, even set up a panel to discuss the issue. .
But the prime minister announced he was rejecting the request despite significant public criticism.
Netanyahu’s lawyers also said in a request Wednesday that four members of the prime minister’s defense team were currently in solitary confinement due to exposure to the coronavirus.
“The defendants have only a few working days to prepare a response to the conviction, which includes new details that have not been revealed to them to date. We also reveal that the State of Israel -currently in lockout, “the lawyers said.
“In the past week, according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health, [the defense team] has been working with a 50% limited workforce. After the government decision [Tuesday] at night, this format will be further reduced as a result of the tightening of restrictions and the full closure of the country, making it even more difficult for the defenders to respond, ”he wrote.
The next hearing in Netanyahu’s trial was scheduled to take place next Wednesday, on January 13. The prime minister has demanded that he not respond to the conviction and is instead trying to block it. on the legal issues due to what Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit did not provide sufficient consent to launch the investigation against him in late 2016.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit talks about his decision to disrespect Benjamin Netanyahu, November 2019
(Photo: Government Press Office)
In response to a request from Netanyahu’s lawyers for more information, prosecutors issued a letter Sunday claiming that 315 incidents of Walla being asked to cover were made in favor of Netanyahu and his family. They said there were indications that Netanyahu was personally involved in 150 of those incidents.
He said the requests included giving more time or publicity to positive articles about Netanyahu and his family, changing headlines and reducing or even removing misleading stories. -favorable. It also included a request for negative coverage on Netanyahu’s competitors.
Air Jan. 17-19, 2013, for example, said Netanyahu’s partner persuaded Elovitch to publish stories saying that the wife of Naftali Bennett, the leader of Yamina’s rival party, was working in a non-kosher restaurant.
Several weeks later, Netanyahu, through the same alliance, alleges that he pressured Walla to remove critical articles about a lacy dress his wife had sworn to swear at. into the new parliament and replaced it with favorable reviews. The site agreed to both requests, he said.
Once again, Elovitch apparently ordered, at Netanyahu’s request, Walla to stop a live broadcast of a rally by Netanyahu’s opponents during the country’s 2015 election campaign.
The Associated Press contributed to this report