Netanyahu, Elovitches press attorney-general for decision on withdrawing Case 4000 bribery charge

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and co-defendants Shaul and Iris Elovitch have formally requested Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to clarify whether prosecutors intend to withdraw the bribery charge in Case 4000. Their legal team argues that this persistent uncertainty is significantly impeding their ability to adequately prepare the remainder of the defense case.

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the prosecution will withdraw the bribery charge in Case 4000, arguing that the unresolved question is preventing them from properly planning the remainder of the defense case.

In a joint notice filed with the Jerusalem District Court, attorneys Amit Hadad and Jacques Chen stated that the attorney-general's position on the charge could substantially influence which witnesses and evidence the defense must present. This is particularly critical as the court is set to expand its trial schedule to five hearing days per week starting in October.

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Baharav-Miara’s position could substantially affect which witnesses and evidence the defense must present, particularly as the court prepares to expand the trial schedule to five hearing days a week beginning in October.

This request comes after the court's clarification on June 29. At that time, Judges Rivka Friedman-Feldman, Moshe Bar-Am, and Oded Shaham indicated that their position from three years prior "remains unchanged." In June 2023, the judges had expressed difficulties in substantiating the bribery offense as outlined in the first count of the indictment concerning Case 4000, suggesting the state consider withdrawing the charge.

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its position from three years earlier “remains unchanged.”

The prosecution had previously responded that they viewed the evidence differently. They argued that the judges had only heard part of the case and that further issues were expected to emerge during the defense's presentation of evidence.

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In June 2023, Judges Rivka Friedman-Feldman, Moshe Bar-Am, and Oded Shaham said there were difficulties in substantiating the bribery offense in the first count of the indictment, which concerns Case 4000, and suggested that the state consider withdrawing the charge.