At trial, Netanyahu says heads of Mossad and Shin Bet part of ‘junta’ working against him

Earlier today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly accused heads of Mossad and Shin Bet of working against him during a hearing of his criminal trial in the Tel Aviv District Court, and claimed they were part of a “junta” against him.

Netanyahu’s defense attorney Amit Hadad was asking the prime minister about negative media articles against him on the Walla news website, ahead of the 2015 elections, including an opinion article by a former head of the Shin Bet.

“It’s not new that heads of the Shin Ben and Mossad are against me, they’re all part of the same word that begins with [the Hebrew letter] Heth,” the prime minister said, as cited by Ynet. He later clarified that he was referring to the word “junta.”

He also said those he was accusing of acting against him were “not only former officials,” indicating he believed current position-holders were part of such efforts as well.

Netanyahu has in the past claimed the “deep state” is persecuting him, including officials in the judicial system, law enforcement agencies and the media. He claimed today at the Knesset that the “deep state” was conspiring to form a biased investigative committee of the October 7 disaster.