Netanyahu Denies Meeting with Shlomo Filber Amid Corruption Trial

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified on Monday in his ongoing corruption trial, rejecting claims that he met with former Communications Ministry director-general Shlomo Filber to discuss benefitting alleged media bribery scheme co-defendant Shaul Elovitch. Netanyahu’s testimony directly contradicts Filber’s previous statement that suggested the meeting was a pivotal moment in the prosecution’s Case 4000.

Key Points of Netanyahu's Defense

During his testimony, Netanyahu firmly denied ever meeting with Filber to discuss issues surrounding the Bezeq merger and alleged efforts to favor Elovitch. Filber’s 2022 testimony had been central to the prosecution's case, suggesting that Netanyahu had instructed him to ease regulatory hurdles for Bezeq, a company owned by Elovitch, in exchange for favorable media coverage from the Walla news outlet.

Defense attorney Amit Hadad introduced Filber's calendar to demonstrate that no such meeting had occurred. Netanyahu further accused investigators of hiding documents and evidence that could potentially exonerate him, claiming that the case against him was based on "false accusations" and a "meeting that didn’t happen." Netanyahu emphasized that this supposed meeting was a core element of the bribery allegations against him, but without it, the entire case fell apart.

Netanyahu's Accusations Against the Prosecution

Netanyahu expressed his frustration, claiming that the investigators had intentionally concealed evidence that contradicted the prosecution's narrative. "It’s monstrous what’s here. There’s an industry of lies,” Netanyahu said. “This is my life we’re talking about.”

The prime minister continued to deny any role in the Bezeq-Yes merger and insisted that he had never asked Elovitch to adjust pricing as part of his telecom market reforms. He also rejected the notion that Filber had been his trusted confidant, stating that he hadn’t seen Filber in at least a decade and had never considered him a close advisor.

On Filber's Testimony and Investigations

Netanyahu also addressed claims made by Filber, who turned state’s witness after claiming to have been subjected to physical abuse during interrogations. Defense attorney Hadad pressed Netanyahu about the possibility that Filber had been threatened with leniency in exchange for incriminating information about the prime minister. Netanyahu suggested that such pressure was part of a larger scheme to manipulate testimonies, calling the use of the Pegasus spyware against Filber an example of unethical tactics.

"I didn’t know that Pegasus was being used,” Netanyahu said, referring to the controversial surveillance program. "If I knew that Pegasus, a program we use against terrorists, was being used over Walla articles, I would have exploded."

Netanyahu’s Telecommunication Reforms and Case 4000

In addressing the central issue of Case 4000, Netanyahu reiterated that the telecommunications reforms he sought in 2015 were designed to encourage market competition, not to benefit Elovitch. He stressed that Bezeq's dominance in the market stifled innovation and hindered progress in Israeli telecommunications. The prime minister maintained that these reforms were made in the interest of Israeli democracy, rather than as part of a bribery scheme.

The trial, which continues to make headlines, has been marked by frequent scheduling issues, particularly surrounding Jewish holidays. Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman requested that Wednesday's hearing be canceled in light of the upcoming Passover holiday. Testimony from Netanyahu is now scheduled for April 14 and 15, with further adjustments to the trial calendar due to other holiday conflicts.