2 aug 2020
Judge orders Yair Netanyahu to stop harassing demonstrators against his father for the next 6 months after he posted their addresses and encouraged followers to picket their homes
A Jerusalem court ordered on Sunday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son to stop "harassing" the organizers of protests calling for his father's ouster.
Yair Netanyahu tweeted the personal addresses of the organizers of the protests outside the prime minister's official residence in Jerusalem on Thursday and called for similar demonstrations outside their homes.
"I invite everyone to demonstrate, day and night, in front of the houses of these people who organize anarchy in our country," he tweeted.
For many weeks, protests have been taking place almost daily across Israel, including outside the home of the premier who was indicted in November 2019 for corruption, fraud and breach of trust in three cases - a first for an incumbent Israeli prime minister.
Protesters called for Netanyahu's departure from office and denounced the government's mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic.
A Jerusalem court ordered on Sunday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son to stop "harassing" the organizers of protests calling for his father's ouster.
Yair Netanyahu tweeted the personal addresses of the organizers of the protests outside the prime minister's official residence in Jerusalem on Thursday and called for similar demonstrations outside their homes.
"I invite everyone to demonstrate, day and night, in front of the houses of these people who organize anarchy in our country," he tweeted.
For many weeks, protests have been taking place almost daily across Israel, including outside the home of the premier who was indicted in November 2019 for corruption, fraud and breach of trust in three cases - a first for an incumbent Israeli prime minister.
Protesters called for Netanyahu's departure from office and denounced the government's mismanagement of the coronavirus pandemic.
Yair Netanyahu's tweet exposing private information of protest organizers
Justice Dorit Feinstein demanded the tweet be deleted and added in her ruling that Yair Netanyahu must "cease harassing protest organizers for six months and no longer publish their private addresses."
In reaction, the Prime Minister's son, aged 29 and familiar with provocations on social media, published a tweet criticizing the judge for not having taken into account "the death threats he received aimed at him."
His father denounced in a statement "all acts of violence and harassment."
Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu accused the local press of mobilizing against him, comparing it to the press in North Korea.
"I do not hear any condemnation from the media against the violent nature of the demonstrations. Instead of covering the demonstrations, the press is mobilizing in favor of the protesters," he said.
On Saturday, his party Likud said on Twitter that the media "are desperately trying to poison the public, in order to bring down a strong right-wing prime minister."
Justice Dorit Feinstein demanded the tweet be deleted and added in her ruling that Yair Netanyahu must "cease harassing protest organizers for six months and no longer publish their private addresses."
In reaction, the Prime Minister's son, aged 29 and familiar with provocations on social media, published a tweet criticizing the judge for not having taken into account "the death threats he received aimed at him."
His father denounced in a statement "all acts of violence and harassment."
Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu accused the local press of mobilizing against him, comparing it to the press in North Korea.
"I do not hear any condemnation from the media against the violent nature of the demonstrations. Instead of covering the demonstrations, the press is mobilizing in favor of the protesters," he said.
On Saturday, his party Likud said on Twitter that the media "are desperately trying to poison the public, in order to bring down a strong right-wing prime minister."
In a six-minute rant at the cabinet meeting, PM accused the media of 'a distorted, Soviet-like mobilization' to justify the protests while ignoring alleged calls 'to murder the prime minister and his family'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed on Sunday at swelling protests against his rule, saying they are egged on by a biased media that distorts facts and cheers on the demonstrators. video
Netanyahu has faced a wave of protests in recent weeks, with demonstrators calling for the long-serving, indicted leader to resign and panning his handling of the coronavirus crisis. Netanyahu has painted the protests as dens of “anarchists” and “leftists” out to topple “a strong right-wing leader.”
The protests have largely been peaceful. In some cases, they have ended with clashes between demonstrators and police. In others, small gangs of Netanyahu supporters and individuals affiliated with far-right groups have assaulted demonstrators.
In a six-minute rant at a meeting of his cabinet, Netanyahu slammed the media for “inflaming” the protests and for misrepresenting incidents of violence against the protesters.
“There has never been such a distorted mobilization - I wanted to say Soviet but it has already reached North Korean terms - of the media in favor of the protests,” he said.
Netanyahu said the media ignored “wild and unfettered incitement, including daily calls — including the day before yesterday — to murder the prime minister and his family.”
He said the protests were breeding grounds for the virus that were being allowed to take place with no limits, shutting down streets and neighborhoods. He said right-wing protests have not been given such free rein.
He condemned violence “from all sides” at the start of his remarks before tearing into the media he has long viewed as hostile toward him.
Also at the cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who is the country’s “alternate” prime minister under a power-sharing deal, said the protests must be allowed to take place with protesters shielded from violence.
“The right to protest is the lifeblood of democracy and violence is the erosion of the foundation of democracy,” he said.
Netanyahu’s tirade came as his son Yair Netanyahu was summoned to a Jerusalem court after tweeting the names, addresses and phone numbers of prominent protesters, calling his followers to demonstrate outside their homes “day and night.” The court granted the 28-year-old Netanyahu an exemption from appearing in court. Protesters said they received threatening calls after the tweet.
Throughout the summer, thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets, calling for Netanyahu to resign, protesting his handling of the country’s coronavirus crisis and saying he should not remain in office while on trial for corruption charges. Though Netanyahu has tried to play down the protests, the twice-a-week gatherings show no signs of slowing and Saturday night’s Jerusalem gathering drew more than 10,000 people. video
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed on Sunday at swelling protests against his rule, saying they are egged on by a biased media that distorts facts and cheers on the demonstrators. video
Netanyahu has faced a wave of protests in recent weeks, with demonstrators calling for the long-serving, indicted leader to resign and panning his handling of the coronavirus crisis. Netanyahu has painted the protests as dens of “anarchists” and “leftists” out to topple “a strong right-wing leader.”
The protests have largely been peaceful. In some cases, they have ended with clashes between demonstrators and police. In others, small gangs of Netanyahu supporters and individuals affiliated with far-right groups have assaulted demonstrators.
In a six-minute rant at a meeting of his cabinet, Netanyahu slammed the media for “inflaming” the protests and for misrepresenting incidents of violence against the protesters.
“There has never been such a distorted mobilization - I wanted to say Soviet but it has already reached North Korean terms - of the media in favor of the protests,” he said.
Netanyahu said the media ignored “wild and unfettered incitement, including daily calls — including the day before yesterday — to murder the prime minister and his family.”
He said the protests were breeding grounds for the virus that were being allowed to take place with no limits, shutting down streets and neighborhoods. He said right-wing protests have not been given such free rein.
He condemned violence “from all sides” at the start of his remarks before tearing into the media he has long viewed as hostile toward him.
Also at the cabinet meeting, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who is the country’s “alternate” prime minister under a power-sharing deal, said the protests must be allowed to take place with protesters shielded from violence.
“The right to protest is the lifeblood of democracy and violence is the erosion of the foundation of democracy,” he said.
Netanyahu’s tirade came as his son Yair Netanyahu was summoned to a Jerusalem court after tweeting the names, addresses and phone numbers of prominent protesters, calling his followers to demonstrate outside their homes “day and night.” The court granted the 28-year-old Netanyahu an exemption from appearing in court. Protesters said they received threatening calls after the tweet.
Throughout the summer, thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets, calling for Netanyahu to resign, protesting his handling of the country’s coronavirus crisis and saying he should not remain in office while on trial for corruption charges. Though Netanyahu has tried to play down the protests, the twice-a-week gatherings show no signs of slowing and Saturday night’s Jerusalem gathering drew more than 10,000 people. video
26 juli 2020
PM accused of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate probes; witnesses to begin testifying in January; prosecutors reject claim by co-defendant Shaul Elovitch that they deliberately withheld evidence from the defense team
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been instructed to appear in court on Dec. 6 to answer charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, the Jerusalem District Court said on Sunday.
According to the schedule announced last week by the court, the prime minister will be required to attend the evidence phase of his trial three times a week starting in January.
Prosecutors on Sunday rejected claims by the lawyers for communications mogul Shaul Elovitch, who is a co-defendant in one of the cases against Netanyahu, that the prosecution concealed evidence.
Netanyahu is accused of accepting bribes in the form of favorable coverage on the Bezeq-owned Walla! News website in return for promoting regulations worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the telecom company and its then-majority shareholder Elovitch.
According to Elovitch's lawyers, prosecutors failed to provide the defense with details of some investigative sessions in which allegedly illegal pressure was put on the former Bezeq boss' son Lior to convince his father to turn state evidence.
Netanyahu was indicted in January in cases 1000, 2000, and 4000 after a years-long investigation. He has denied all charges and has repeatedly claimed he was being hounded by the police, the prosecution, and particularly the Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, all motivated by a desire to remove him from power in contradiction of the will of voters who elected him.
The prime minister's trial began earlier this month. Before entering the courtroom Netanyahu addressed the media repeating claims that he was being unjustly persecuted by the judicial system.
Other defendants in the cases against Netanyahu include Elovitch and his wife Iris and Yedioth Ahronoth and Ynet publisher Arnon Mozes.
Mozes is a defendant in Case 2000, which concerns alleged discussions between him and Netanyahu over a quid pro quo of positive media for the prime minister in return for Netanyahu weakening main rival newspaper Israel Hayom.
In the third case, Case 1000, Netanyahu is accused of receiving expensive gifts worth up to one million shekels from Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been instructed to appear in court on Dec. 6 to answer charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, the Jerusalem District Court said on Sunday.
According to the schedule announced last week by the court, the prime minister will be required to attend the evidence phase of his trial three times a week starting in January.
Prosecutors on Sunday rejected claims by the lawyers for communications mogul Shaul Elovitch, who is a co-defendant in one of the cases against Netanyahu, that the prosecution concealed evidence.
Netanyahu is accused of accepting bribes in the form of favorable coverage on the Bezeq-owned Walla! News website in return for promoting regulations worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the telecom company and its then-majority shareholder Elovitch.
According to Elovitch's lawyers, prosecutors failed to provide the defense with details of some investigative sessions in which allegedly illegal pressure was put on the former Bezeq boss' son Lior to convince his father to turn state evidence.
Netanyahu was indicted in January in cases 1000, 2000, and 4000 after a years-long investigation. He has denied all charges and has repeatedly claimed he was being hounded by the police, the prosecution, and particularly the Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, all motivated by a desire to remove him from power in contradiction of the will of voters who elected him.
The prime minister's trial began earlier this month. Before entering the courtroom Netanyahu addressed the media repeating claims that he was being unjustly persecuted by the judicial system.
Other defendants in the cases against Netanyahu include Elovitch and his wife Iris and Yedioth Ahronoth and Ynet publisher Arnon Mozes.
Mozes is a defendant in Case 2000, which concerns alleged discussions between him and Netanyahu over a quid pro quo of positive media for the prime minister in return for Netanyahu weakening main rival newspaper Israel Hayom.
In the third case, Case 1000, Netanyahu is accused of receiving expensive gifts worth up to one million shekels from Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer.
Thousands of Israeli protesters demonstrated in occupied Jerusalem and across Israel for the fifth week last night, demanding long-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down over corruption charges as well as his failure to handle the coronavirus pandemic. video
In occupied Jerusalem, demonstrators marched through the Paris Square and outside Netanyahu's residence, where mass anti-Netanyahu protests were witnessed in recent weeks.
An Israeli occupation police spokesman told Israeli reporters that around 5,000 demonstrators were at the site of the protest which began at around 8 pm and continued until 11 pm.
Protests were also staged in Tel Aviv, Caesarea and other locations, especially at major junctions, highway overpasses and other areas across the country, in what appeared to be the largest yet demonstration of a growing protest movement seeking Netanyahu’s resignation.
In Jerusalem’s Paris Square, which has been the center of the protest movement, police allowed protesters to remain until around 1 a.m. but then began forcing them out, dragging activists off the street one by one and eventually deploying two water cannons against the remaining group that refused to leave.
Following what some have described as a hasty reopening of the country's economy in May, new daily infections in Israel have spiked to an average of 2,000 a day.
In occupied Jerusalem, demonstrators marched through the Paris Square and outside Netanyahu's residence, where mass anti-Netanyahu protests were witnessed in recent weeks.
An Israeli occupation police spokesman told Israeli reporters that around 5,000 demonstrators were at the site of the protest which began at around 8 pm and continued until 11 pm.
Protests were also staged in Tel Aviv, Caesarea and other locations, especially at major junctions, highway overpasses and other areas across the country, in what appeared to be the largest yet demonstration of a growing protest movement seeking Netanyahu’s resignation.
In Jerusalem’s Paris Square, which has been the center of the protest movement, police allowed protesters to remain until around 1 a.m. but then began forcing them out, dragging activists off the street one by one and eventually deploying two water cannons against the remaining group that refused to leave.
Following what some have described as a hasty reopening of the country's economy in May, new daily infections in Israel have spiked to an average of 2,000 a day.
19 july 2020
Netanyahu's graft trial resumes with request for 6-months delay
Judge rules that witness cross-examination stage will begin at start of 2021, after Netanyahu's attorney asked court to postpone trial due to coronavirus, saying he can't question witnesses 'with a mask on'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be required to attend court three times per week when his corruption trial begins calling witnesses in January 2021, Jerusalem District Court ruled Sunday.
Netanyahu did not appear in court as the trial resumed Sunday for a procedural hearing following a two-month hiatus, as his presence was not required.
Two of his co-defendants, Ynet publisher Arnon Mozes and former Bezeq boss Shaul Elovitch, were also exempt from appearing at the hearing. Elovitch, who is charged in Case 4000, decided to attend voluntarily.
In Case 4000, the prime minister is suspected of taking bribes and acting in a conflict of interest by promoting regulations worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Bezeq and its then-majority shareholder Elovitch. In return, the prime minister allegedly received favorable coverage on the Walla! News website, which is owned by Bezeq.
Elovitch's attorney Michal Rosen-Ozer on Sunday called for a halt to the trial due to "the investigation's tricks." The attorney claimed investigators tried to recruit Elovitch's son as a state witness.
Netanyahu's attorney Yossi Segev also asked for the trial to be postponed for six months due to the coronavirus crisis, adding he could not cross-examine witnesses while all present were required to wear masks due to coronavirus regulations.
"I cannot interrogate witnesses when the witness is sitting with a mask on," Segev said. "How can a cross-examination be performed when I have a mask on, the witness has a mask on and the judge has a mask on?"
He added: "I came here today when I am not ready. I suggest we meet here again in six months, after the coronavirus, when we will be smarter."
Prosecutor Liat Ben Ari responded by saying that in recent months no one from Netanyahu's defense team requested to see the investigation material in preparation for the trial, and Segev's plea for postponement wasn't warranted.
Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman, who heads the judicial panel for the trial then ruled the cross-examination stage will begin in January 2021, with three weekly hearings.
Friedman-Feldman said the hearings will take place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and the defendants will be required to attend.
Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals in which he is alleged to have received lavish gifts from billionaire friends and exchanged regulatory favors with media moguls for more favorable coverage of himself and his family.
The hearing was designed to the defense and prosecution a final opportunity to update the court on their progress in examining the investigation material, before the trial enters the cross-examination stage.
Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, painting the accusations as a media-orchestrated witch-hunt pursued by a biased law enforcement system.
The trial, which began in May, resumes as Netanyahu faces widespread discontent over his government's handling of the coronavirus crisis. Israelis have been increasingly taking to streets to demand his resignation.
Mozes is a defendant in Case 2000, which concerns alleged discussions between him and Netanyahu over a quid pro quo of positive media for the prime minister in return for Netanyahu weakening Yedioth's main rival newspaper Israel Hayom.
In the third case, Case 1000, Netanyahu is accused of receiving expensive gifts worth up to one million shekels from Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer.
Judge rules that witness cross-examination stage will begin at start of 2021, after Netanyahu's attorney asked court to postpone trial due to coronavirus, saying he can't question witnesses 'with a mask on'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be required to attend court three times per week when his corruption trial begins calling witnesses in January 2021, Jerusalem District Court ruled Sunday.
Netanyahu did not appear in court as the trial resumed Sunday for a procedural hearing following a two-month hiatus, as his presence was not required.
Two of his co-defendants, Ynet publisher Arnon Mozes and former Bezeq boss Shaul Elovitch, were also exempt from appearing at the hearing. Elovitch, who is charged in Case 4000, decided to attend voluntarily.
In Case 4000, the prime minister is suspected of taking bribes and acting in a conflict of interest by promoting regulations worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Bezeq and its then-majority shareholder Elovitch. In return, the prime minister allegedly received favorable coverage on the Walla! News website, which is owned by Bezeq.
Elovitch's attorney Michal Rosen-Ozer on Sunday called for a halt to the trial due to "the investigation's tricks." The attorney claimed investigators tried to recruit Elovitch's son as a state witness.
Netanyahu's attorney Yossi Segev also asked for the trial to be postponed for six months due to the coronavirus crisis, adding he could not cross-examine witnesses while all present were required to wear masks due to coronavirus regulations.
"I cannot interrogate witnesses when the witness is sitting with a mask on," Segev said. "How can a cross-examination be performed when I have a mask on, the witness has a mask on and the judge has a mask on?"
He added: "I came here today when I am not ready. I suggest we meet here again in six months, after the coronavirus, when we will be smarter."
Prosecutor Liat Ben Ari responded by saying that in recent months no one from Netanyahu's defense team requested to see the investigation material in preparation for the trial, and Segev's plea for postponement wasn't warranted.
Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman, who heads the judicial panel for the trial then ruled the cross-examination stage will begin in January 2021, with three weekly hearings.
Friedman-Feldman said the hearings will take place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and the defendants will be required to attend.
Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals in which he is alleged to have received lavish gifts from billionaire friends and exchanged regulatory favors with media moguls for more favorable coverage of himself and his family.
The hearing was designed to the defense and prosecution a final opportunity to update the court on their progress in examining the investigation material, before the trial enters the cross-examination stage.
Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, painting the accusations as a media-orchestrated witch-hunt pursued by a biased law enforcement system.
The trial, which began in May, resumes as Netanyahu faces widespread discontent over his government's handling of the coronavirus crisis. Israelis have been increasingly taking to streets to demand his resignation.
Mozes is a defendant in Case 2000, which concerns alleged discussions between him and Netanyahu over a quid pro quo of positive media for the prime minister in return for Netanyahu weakening Yedioth's main rival newspaper Israel Hayom.
In the third case, Case 1000, Netanyahu is accused of receiving expensive gifts worth up to one million shekels from Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Australian billionaire James Packer.
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