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Thursday, June 26, 2025
Secret deal to end Netanyahu’s trial fell apart over PM’s refusal to step down — source
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attorney Amit Hadad sought to reach an arrangement to bring an end to his criminal trial several months ago through the mediation of former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak.
In a January meeting in Barak’s home with Hadad, Prof. Barak Medina of Hebrew University, and the attorney for Netanyahu’s co-defendant Shaul Elovitz, Hadad sought to have Barak serve as a mediator with the prosecution, a source familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel, confirming a Channel 12 report.
The idea was to have Netanyahu plead guilty to a charge relating to Case 1000, in which Netanyahu is accused of fraud and breach of trust in the luxury gifts scandal.
Hadad insisted, however, that Netanyahu would not accept a finding of moral turpitude in such a plea bargain, which comes with a seven-year ban on holding public office, or an agreement whereby he would retire from public office.
Barak, for his part, insisted that Netanyahu must step down from the premiership for him to agree to mediate.
According to a source familiar with the meeting, the effort to reach an agreement broke down over that issue.
The Times of Israel Community.