Netanyahu testimony comes to an end, set to resume monday

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that his corruption indictments invented a new category of conflict of interest because his relationship with co-defendant Shaul Elovitch and his wife wasn't close.

Netanyahu argued that the issue of conflict of interest arose when there was a close relationship and the ability to impact the person's affairs, and while he was dealing with matters related to Elovitch's Bezeq telecommunications company, he insisted he was only an acquaintance of Elovitch.

The Prime Minister warned that if such relationships were described as conflict of interest, it would endanger many politicians who have relationships with journalists. 

Judge Moshe Bar-Am said at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Wednesday corruption trial testimony that the defense's line of inquiry to the Israeli leader about Walla articles had exhausted itself, with Haddad assuring that he would soon shift to discussion of conflict of interest issues surrounding Netanyahu's relationship with the Elovitch family. 
 
 
 

Walla was one of many outlets requested to cover a 2015 right-wing political rally, defense attorney Amit Haddad argued at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Wednesday corruption testimony trial, disputing an indictment item claiming unusual coverage of the Israeli leader as part of an alleged media bribery scheme.

Netanyahu confirmed to Hadad that he did not have to make "demands" from other outlets to cover an event that was considered "unusual" for Walla to do. Co-defendant and ex-Walla owner Shaul Elovitch had asked the outlet to give the story a push, but Netanyahu denied asking him to do so.

Hadad also highlighted that some of the choices of pictures to accompany the article presented the rally in a poor light, including a photograph of a participant who wore a shirt that asked if the far-right terrorist "[Meir] Kahane was right." Netanyahu said that the "bad" photograph tried to present everyone as Kahane supporters when, in reality, there were only a handful of people present. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at his Wednesday corruption trial testimony that he didn't bother speaking to co-defendant and ex-Walla owner Shaul Elovitch about changes to articles on his outlet because he saw no point in such an exercise.

Comparing Walla to Soviet propaganda, Netanyahu said that the outlet was adamantly against him and the only way to change its coverage was to change the staff, which Elovitch didn't do.

"There is not a straight thing out of the crooked timber of Walla," Netanyahu said in English, paraphrasing philosopher Immanuel Kant.

The remarks came in response to 2015 requests from Elovitch to then-Walla CEO Ilan Yeshua, in which the co-defendant asked Yeshua to change an article about then-President Barack Obama's reaction to Netanyahu's congress speech. Netanyahu said that he had not asked Elovitch to make any changes. In another instance, Elovtich's wife told Yeshua that the website had not been balanced for a long time, but Netanyahu insisted he did not make any requests in that conversation. Iris Elovitch requested the coverage of Netanyahu's trip be straightened out.

The prosecution on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial defense team of undermining the rule of law with attacks on the legitimacy of the State Attorney office's work and accusations that the prosecution had concealed materials from the defense.

A review of an indictment item about Walla's coverage of Netanyahu's 2015 speech at the US Congress devolved into a heated disagreement between defense attorney Amit Hadad, the prosecution, and Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman. Hadad had highlighted communications between then-Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog and ex-Walla CEO Ilan Yeshua about an article title change request about the future president's speech, comparing the exchange to a request by co-defendant Iris Elovitch to Yeshua to depoliticize an article about Netanyahu's visit to Congress. Hadad had said that the request was not completely honored, and mentioned that content was concealed by the prosecution.

The prosecution objected, saying that Hadad was making a statement and not asking Netanyahu a question. The prosecutor also charged that Hadad was attacking the rule of law with his denigration of the legal system, to which Hadad retorted that he agreed that the prosecution was concerned with ruling and that the indictment was an assault on the rule of law. The prosecution said that Hadad's comments were inappropriate for the courtroom. Friedman-Feldman accepted the objections of the prosecution, and told Hadad that such contentions about the indictment had been argued before and he should continue on. Hadad continued to press the point about the prosecution's alleged concealment of materials, arguing with the judge, who warned him, "You are crossing the line."

There was a brief recess in the Wednesday corruption trial testimony of Prime Benjamin Netanyahu after the Israeli leader received an urgent government message.
 
 
 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's suggestion to hold a minute of silence for slain hostages Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas during his 13th corruption trial testimony on Wednesday was rejected by Judge Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman. 

"Today, as we accompany Shiri Bibas and her two young children, Ariel and Kfir, on their final journey, I believe it is appropriate for us to stand for a moment of silence," Netanyahu said. 

"We all remember. We will now continue with the testimony," the judge said.
 
 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s thirteenth corruption trial testimony began on Wednesday morning.

The Wednesday testimony is the second hearing this week, with the Tuesday hearing being canceled due to state security issues.

The sessions are continuing under a push for the judges to limit the number of hearings and the defense’s call to shift the weekly schedule to two hearings a week.