Prosecution ruffled by stream of notes to Netanyahu during testimony

Attorneys prosecuting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are demanding that the court establish a mechanism for passing notes to the premier, after a staffer brings in a message demanding his attention.

Prosecutors also want to track how many messages are being sent to the premier. The first two days of testimony saw a handful of notes brought in for Netanyahu’s attention.

Notes to Netanyahu, seemingly pertaining to matters unrelated to the graft cases he is on trial for, have become daily interruptions as the premier testifies, underlining the unique challenges posed by putting a head of government on trial.

The judges permit a 10-minute break for Netanyahu to deal with the note.

Upon returning, Netanyahu insists that the notes are purely related to his functioning as prime minister, and says that receiving such notes are the minimum that can be expected when serving as premier and giving testimony at the same time.

Netanyahu and his attorney Amit Hadad say that they are willing to show the notes to the judges, but Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman says there is no need.