Netanyahu dubs news outlet at center of criminal trial ‘Walla Hamas’ over perceived negative coverage

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Defense Attorney Amit Hadad continues to highlight what he says are highly problematic items of the indictment against the premier during the seventh day of testimony in his criminal trial.

Among the items criticized is an allegation that Netanyahu directly demanded of Walla news website owner Shaul Elovitch that Walla publish an article about his son’s IDF service.

Netanyahu says in court he doesn’t recall if he made the request, suggesting it may have come from his wife Sara, but Hadad points out that Walla never published such an article, despite the indictment stating that Walla acceded to Netanyahu’s request.

“There was no article. I cannot understand on what basis they use the words ‘demand,’… We didn’t find an article and an article was not filed. There are other incidents like this,” fumes Hadad.

This prompts prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh to comment, “There is an evidentiary puzzle that needs to be presented,” to which Hadad retorts sardonically, “The indictment is a riddle, the evidence is a puzzle!”

Hadad continues by citing an article on the Walla website criticizing Netanyahu for how he conducted the 2014 war against Hamas in Gaza and accusing him of not having sufficient sensitivity toward the dead.

Netanyahu alleges that Walla was using Hamas messaging against him, and erupts angrily in court calling the news website “Walla Hamas” and “Walla Akbar.”

Adds the prime minister, “This is really crazy.”

Soon after, the court takes a break for a second time, after Netanyahu is handed a note that he says requires his attention.

The indictment against Netanyahu alleges that he had an illicit quid pro quo agreement with Walla owner Shaul Elovitch, in which Walla would give Netanyahu favorable coverage in return for the prime minister approving regulatory decisions that benefited Elovitch.

Netanyahu’s testimony has focused on demonstrating that Walla not only did not give him favorable news coverage but was actively hostile to him.