From the Liveblog of
Monday, June 12, 2023
At Netanyahu trial, defense challenges Lapid’s credibility over his army service
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAmy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel
Opposition leader Yair Lapid and the chief defense attorney in the Netanyahu trial, Amit Hadad, exchange sharp words in court about the Yesh Atid leader’s reliability as a witness.
Hadad, cross-examining Lapid during his first day of testimony in the Jerusalem District Court, implies that the opposition leader lied in the past about his military service.
“Perhaps the court will think that you once told stories and you are now as well,” says Hadad, to which Lapid counters that he will “not cooperate with malicious gossip.”
Hadad continues to press Lapid on the issue of his conflicting stories about his IDF service, and the opposition leader replies: “There’s a problem with liars: They think everybody else is lying, and everyone who is corrupt thinks that everyone else is corrupt too.”
Lapid is in court to testify about his discussions with Netanyahu and with Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan back in 2013, when the Yesh Atid chief served as finance minister.
Lapid has testified that Netanyahu brought up the issue of a potential tax break for returning citizens that would benefit Milchan, but that nothing ever came of it. Netanyahu is accused in Case 1000 of accepting lavish gifts from the billionaire in exchange for attempting to help him with tax and US visa issues.
The Times of Israel Community.