Knesset legal adviser rebuffs Ohana’s claim that court must coordinate PM’s testimony with him
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Despite Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana’s claims to the contrary, there is no legal requirement to coordinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming testimony in his criminal trial with Ohana, according to Knesset legal adviser Sagit Afik.
Afik’s stance, delivered in a nine-page-long legal opinion submitted to the Jerusalem District Court, comes in response to Ohana’s allegation on Friday that failing to coordinate with him was a breach of the separation of powers.
Ohana’s accusation came after the court on Thursday rejected Netanyahu’s request, due to the ongoing wars, to testify two days a week instead of three. Netanyahu’s testimony is set to start on Tuesday.
Citing the Knesset Members (Immunity, Rights and Duties) Law, Ohana said in a letter to judiciary director Judge Tzachi Uziel that the court was required to seek the Knesset speaker’s consent for the timing of any lawmaker’s testimony.
In its response, Afik’s office states that in cases in which lawmakers are defendants, there is no need for such consultation, although this would not apply to any additional MKs who are not defendants and who may be required to testify later in Netanyahu’s trial.