Likud Calls to Halt Netanyahu’s Trial and Investigate Former Law-Enforcement Officials

Likud called on October 11 for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trial to stop immediately after former attorney general Avichai Mandelblit’s testimony. The party demanded that the cases be closed and that a criminal investigation be opened into Mandelblit, Shai Nitzan, Yehudit Tirosh, Liat Ben-Ari, Roni Alsheich and investigators it alleged were involved. It alleged that Mandelblit had not reviewed the evidentiary material and had provided a scanned signature while Netanyahu represented Israel at the White House. Likud portrayed the proceedings as an attempt to remove Netanyahu through improper means rather than elections.