Sixth Day of Netanyahu’s testimony begins in Tel Aviv | Benjamin Netanyahu

Business approvals signed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu years before a supposed media bribery scheme with co-defendant Shaul Elovitch were far more financially substantial than those signed after the alleged understanding, the defense argued at the Israeli leader’s Tuesday corruption trial testimony at the Tel Aviv District Court, explaining that they were approved in a comparable routine manner.

As with the approvals for 2014 B Communications and the Yad 2 sale, which the prosecution alleged was expedited at the behest of former Walla officers, Netanyahu said that he didn’t remember signing 2010 business approvals and didn’t feel any responsibility to Elovitch. 

There was no difference between the 2010 and 2014 articles, but defense attorney Amit Haddad argued that the 2010 items were more financially substantial than the 2014 approvals. He and Netanyahu continued to emphasize that these 2010 documents were approved before he and Elovitch became closer acquaintances in 2012 and prior to the alleged scheme to exchange positive coverage on Walla for government favor.

“Simply completely routine,” said Netanyahu.