Netanyahu denounces ‘police state’ trial as cross-examination ends after over a year |
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday claimed his associates have likened the prosecution to the former East Germany’s “Stasi,” and accused them of conducting a political trial like that in a “police state,” during an outburst in court, as his cross-examination in his criminal trial ended after over a year of hearings, amid repeated delays.
Judges shortened Tuesday’s hearing to 2:30 p.m. instead of 4:30 p.m., as the prime minister requested to leave early on apparent diplomatic and security grounds. On Wednesday, the next stage is set to begin, in which Netanyahu’s defense lawyers will ask follow-up questions in their redirect examination.
Tuesday’s hearing centered on Case 2000, in which the premier is charged with fraud and breach of trust over allegations he planned an arrangement with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes under which Netanyahu would receive favorable media coverage from the publication and, in return, advance legislation to weaken Yediot’s rival newspaper Israel Hayom in 2014.
That paper, bankrolled by now-deceased American billionaire Sheldon Adelson and previously considered very pro-Netanyahu, is handed out for free and has seriously hurt Yedioth’s circulation figures over the years.
The bill, which would have required newspapers to charge a minimum price, passed the first of three readings in the Knesset in November 2014, apparently catching Netanyahu off guard.
Weeks after the bill was advanced, in December 2014, Netanyahu dissolved the Knesset, ushering in new elections and thwarting any efforts to further advance the legislation. The agreement with Mozes was never implemented.
During Tuesday’s examination, state attorney prosecutor Yehonatan Tadmor asked Netanyahu to explain his statements to investigators in Case 2000, questioning his version of events. During a line of questioning in court, Netanyahu denied that he was interested in Yedioth Aharonoth’s coverage of him.
Tadmor then presented Netanyahu with a quote from his police questioning, in which the prime minister told investigators that he is in “the middle of a war” and has to “buy time.”
“He already took the Knesset from me; now I have to think about how I fight him. What I’m doing in the upcoming election campaign,”........