The Netanyahu Trial is a seminal event in Israel’s history. A very divisive event, the trial has jolted the nation to its core. Why and how was it decided, to indict a sitting Prime Minister for unprecedented charges in the shape of bribery for favorable press coverage? What calculations guided the decision makers?
“The Trial” presents major indisputable facts and shines a light on state entities that usually operate away from public scrutiny.
The film is the product of in-depth research and investigation by its creators, who interviewed judges, former senior State Prosecution officials, prominent legal scholars, lawyers, and leading journalists. Their knowledge of the case and the inner workings behind the scenes, provides a rare and invaluable insight.
One of the interviewees is a former senior official who headed one of the departments at the State Prosecution. In extraordinary criticism, she assails the Attorney General and the State Prosecution for the handling of the Netanyahu cases. She lambasts the prosecution’s attempt to amend a half-baked indictment, which was initially hastily filed without a list of witnesses, in order, according to her, to submit it while prime minister Netanyahu was on an official state visit to the United States in an effort to further the “Abraham Accords” with President Trump:
“It is completely unacceptable for an indictment to be amended after it had already been served. But because they set out to drop the bombshell of the indictment while Netanyahu was away on a state visit, the indictment was put together hastily and clumsily.”
Rachel Wazner, another former senior official at the State Prosecution, casts a large doubt on the three offenses in the case and the decision to indict Netanyahu:
“These three offenses are red warning light because there is nothing criminal – nothing that justifies the immense effort by the prosecution. We know what deeds were done and how much money was spent to create a case here.”
In contrast, Adv. Joey Asch, who headed the criminal division at the State Prosecution, which recommended to indict Netanyahu, sees matters differently:
“Netanyahu did many great things for the State of Israel, but in my opinion, he committed offenses.”
Asch also discusses the tactics of the investigation of State witness Nir Hefetz:
“I don’t know what exactly happened. But assuming that the claims that were made are true, then this is a very serious breach. Such things are never acceptable. To apply such pressure on a witness is no less than shocking.”
Prof. Yuval Elbashan from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the Dean of the Ono Academic Center Law School arrived at a clear conclusion:
“If the courts can hear this trial in a completely apolitical manner, as should be the case, I don’t see even the slightest chance of conviction.”
משפט נתניהו הוא ללא ספק אחד האירועים המטלטלים בתולדות מדינת ישראל. אירוע שחוצה את החברה הישראלית. מדוע ואיך הוחלט, באופן תקדימי, להעמיד לדין ראש ממשלה מכהן, באשמת קבלת שוחד בדמות סיקור תקשורתי? אלו שיקולים הנחו את מקבלי ההחלטות?
הסרט הוא תוצר של תחקיר מעמיק של יוצרי הסרט ששוחחו עם שופטים, בכירים לשעבר בפרקליטות עורכי דין, משפטנים ואנשי תקשורת מהשורה הראשונה שבקיאים ברזי התיק ובנעשה מאחורי הקלעים.
יוצרי הסרט הם הבמאי גלעד (גילי) גולדשמידט, בעל וותק של 25 שנים בתחום ויועד בן יוסף, מפיק ותסריטאי, שפועל בתחום הקולנוע והטלויזיה למעלה מ-30 שנה.
#המשפט
‘The Trial’ was directed by veteran filmmakers Gilad Goldschmidt and screenwriter Yoad Ben-Yosef and was produced by Executive Producers Avi Gross and Ophir Falk of Lychee Productions Ltd.
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