Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared today (Wednesday) in court to deliver his second testimony in Case 4000, which alleges a bribery relationship between him and the controlling shareholder of the Bezeq-Walla group, Shaul Elovitch. During the testimony, the Prime Minister had to pause from time to time to receive special “notes” requiring his immediate attention, amid a dynamic security situation and the responsibilities of running a country during wartime.
During the session, Netanyahu received two secret notes, after which he had to step out for a brief security consultation following the second note. The notes are delivered to the Prime Minister in official National Security Council envelopes marked as “Confidential,” “Secret,” or “Top Secret.”
Subject of the Testimony: “The Guidance Meeting”
Netanyahu’s second testimony focuses on the “Guidance Meeting” between him and former Communications Ministry Director-General Shlomo Filber. The prosecution claims the Prime Minister instructed Filber to grant regulatory benefits to Elovitch in exchange for favorable coverage on the Walla website. However, in previous hearings, it was revealed that the meeting’s existence could not be proven on the date specified in the indictment. The prosecution requested to amend the indictment but faced rejection from the judges, who even suggested dropping the bribery charge entirely.
The defense argues that since the dates in the indictment do not match reality, the prosecution’s case collapses, leaving it without a solid factual basis. During today’s hearing, Netanyahu’s attorney, Amit Hadad, revealed that the first request concerning Walla occurred only six months after the meeting with Elovitch, contradicting the prosecution’s claims.
