Netanyahu spars with prosecution over 2015 Walla interview, Election Day video, in trial hearing
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- According to the indictment, Netanyahu was involved in demands to delay the publication of the interview and to edit it before it was posted on the site, which was then controlled by Bezeq owner Shaul Elovitch.
- Netanyahu rejected the prosecution’s framing of the episode, saying the interview was hostile and had violated understandings reached between his spokesman and Walla.
- He said he had not sought improper intervention in the interview and pushed back against reliance on former spokesman Nir Hefetz, a state witness in the case.
- The Gil-Har interview has previously been a key item in the prosecution’s broader account of Walla’s alleged responsiveness to Netanyahu-related requests.
- Tirosh then moved to the campaign’s Election Day messaging, including the video in which Netanyahu warned that “Arab voters” were moving in large numbers to the polls.
- Netanyahu said the video was meant to mobilize Likud voters and argued that the wording would have been more precise had it referred to voters for Arab parties.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's former prime minister, is currently embroiled in a legal battle over allegations of media manipulation during his tenure. At the center of the trial is a 2015 interview with Walla journalist Dov Gil-Har, which prosecutors claim Netanyahu sought to delay and edit to ensure favorable coverage.
This interview is a key piece of evidence in the prosecution's broader narrative that Netanyahu engaged in systematic efforts to influence media outlets in his favor. During the trial hearing, Netanyahu vehemently denied the allegations, arguing that the interview was hostile and breached prior agreements made between his spokesman and Walla.
He further criticized the prosecution's reliance on Nir Hefetz, his former spokesman who has turned state witness, suggesting that Hefetz's testimony should not be trusted. The trial also scrutinized a controversial video released by Netanyahu on Election Day in 2015, where he warned that 'Arab voters' were heading to the polls in large numbers.
Netanyahu defended the video, claiming it was intended to mobilize Likud voters and that the wording should have been more precise, specifically referring to voters for Arab parties. These proceedings are part of a larger legal challenge facing Netanyahu, who has been accused of corruption and media manipulation in several cases.
The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for Netanyahu's political future and the broader political landscape in Israel. Netanyahu's legal team argues that the charges are politically motivated and part of an effort to undermine his leadership. They maintain that the actions in question were standard political practices and not illegal.
The prosecution, however, contends that Netanyahu's actions represent a breach of public trust and an abuse of power, emphasizing the importance of holding public officials accountable for their actions. As the trial continues, both sides are preparing to present further evidence and testimony.
The case remains a focal point of public attention in Israel, with potential ramifications for the country's political dynamics.