Netanyahu's opponents had a Saturday moment tonight • Amit Segal on the drama

22 June 2023   

Netanyahu's vocal opponents had a Sabbath moment tonight: Shabtai Zvi's believers went to bed believing that he was the Messiah and woke up with the news that he converted to Islam during the night. Netanyahu's opponents began the great campaign against him seven years ago under the title "Bribery Fraud Breach of Trust," and now the bribe is gone. The broadcast tonight on Channel 13 about the dramatic statement reflected this: After all, this channel conducted a campaign that lasted years, including a field trial on the program, which ended with Netanyahu's final conviction. The judges on the panel dared to think differently. The meaning of their statement is that if the attorney general refuses mediation, it is possible that even before the defense stage they will announce that the indictment should be withdrawn. This is what they recommended to the prosecution.

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So what did we have? Two weeks after the outbreak of Case 1000, the gift case, Commissioner Roni Alsheich stood in front of the cameras and said: We have arrived at the investigation of the truth. Even then, he thought he had an indictment in this case, but the reason the indictment was delayed for years was because insiders knew that this alone would not send Netanyahu home. That is why the forced indictment of bribery in Case 4000 was born, that is why the criminal pressure on two state witnesses, that is why the continuous revision of the thesis, from positive coverage to benefit coverage to exceptional compliance. The current attorney general, devoid of any criminal experience who so insists on stepping on every minefield, received a bright red sign from the judges. This will also affect any future contact with a plea bargain. The major concession that the prosecution intended to make, on the bribery charge, is now becoming a unilateral concession. What will they be required to give up now? The disgrace? Maybe on one of the fraud counts? And what will happen if Netanyahu refuses? Will the judges then imply that in Case 1000, his situation is actually the more serious? What is clear is that Netanyahu's political situation has improved tonight. It will be very difficult to throw the legal issue at him after the bomb that was dropped now. Together with the collapse of Case 3000, the submarine case, in a Tel Aviv court, it can be said that this is one of the most difficult weeks in the life of the prosecution. And together with Zadorov's acquittal - one of the most difficult years. And all of this is collapsing before the defense phase has even begun.

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The prosecution's conduct caused enormous, incalculable damage to the country. The suspicions led to the charges, and the charges led to the political boycott that led to five election campaigns. What would our history have looked like without the suspicion of bribery, which will soon be seven years old? Mandelblit and Nitzan, who decided "with a heavy heart but with a whole heart" to lead Israel there, owe explanations to the public, and urgently. They may be convincing themselves tonight with the response that "our hope, the hope in the Albeit case, is not yet lost.".

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